How Amaechi’s re-emergence deepens NGF crisis

After several weeks of suspense characterized by intense scheming and intrigues, the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) at the weekend went to the polls to either maintain the status quo or effect a change in its leadership. But the outcome of the election which was won by the incumbent, Rotimi Amaechi, appears to have deepened the existing crack in the forum’s hierarchy.
Governors of the thirty six states of the federation under the auspices of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), converged on Abuja, the nation’s capital, last weekend for a crucial meeting that would determine the future of the political bloc, especially ahead of the 2015 general elections.
During the meeting-being the sixth held by the forum this year- one agenda was topmost on the table; either to effect a change in the leadership of the forum or endorse second tenure for Rivers state governor, Rotimi Amaechi, whose first four year tenure as chairman comes to an end May 26.
After three hours of deliberations at the Rivers state Governor’s Lodge, Asishana Okauru, Director General of the NGF was given the mandate to convey the outcome of the meeting to curious reporters.
As he battled with emotions to read out a terse statement announcing the outcome of the meeting, Okauru sweat-soaked face and clammy hands were an indication of the intensity of political fireworks that may have characterized the marathon session.
“Governors of the 36 states met today (Friday) and decided to either elect a new chairman or maintain the status quo. All the governors, except that of Yobe, participated in the election which was conducted in a free and fair atmosphere”, Okauru said.
Okauru announced that Rotimi Amaechi was re-elected as chairman of the NGF having polled 19 votes to defeat his Plateau state counterpart, Jonah David Jang who scored 16 votes. Jang, believed to be President Jonathan’s candidate, joined the race after Katsina state Governor Ibrahim Shema and his Bauchi State counterpart Isa Yuguda, threw in the towel at the last minute.
He also said Zamfara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari emerged as deputy chairman of the Forum after his Ondo State counterpart and co-contestant Dr Olusegun Mimiko withdrew from the race.
But while Okauru was still announcing the results, some governors including Jang and Akpabio stormed out of the venue in a manner suggesting recrimination with the declaration of Amaechi as winner. There were chants of solidarity songs from the pro-Amaechi governors and secretariat staff of the NGF even as the aggrieved governors were leaving the venue.
But while the pro-Amaechi group was still singing their victory song at the Rivers Governor’s Lodge, chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Akpabio and the anti-Amaechi group regrouped at the Akwa Ibom Governor’s Lodge where they rejected the outcome of the election. Akpabio told journalists that as far as they were concerned, Governor Jang had won the election.
“We are rejecting the declaration of Amaechi as winner because he cannot preside over an election that he is a candidate”, Akpabio said, adding that the election was not properly conducted because Amaechi refused to step down before the poll was conducted.
Akpabio vowed that his group would only recognize Jang; not Amaechi as their chairman and that Mimiko was the forum’s deputy chairman.
At another briefing, Jang insisted he won the election, saying there was no way Amaechi could have won because, according to him, 19 governors had earlier endorsed his (Jang’s) candidature. Although he did not mention the 19 governors, some of the governors said to be backing him include those of Enugu, Delta, Cross Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi , Ondo, Bayelsa, Kogi, Bauchi, Anambra, Nasarawa and Abia States.
Friday’s election which was dubbed as a battle between Amaechi and the Presidency’s preferred choice, preceded several weeks of intrigues and scheming  over the ‘battle for the soul’ of the NGF. Earlier that day, the Northern Governors’ Forum (NGF) had met at the Niger state Governor’s Lodge in an attempt to reconcile the two contestants from the zone.
Although Journalists were prevented from covering the meeting, Sunday Trust gathered that attempt to reconcile the two hit the brick wall because Governor Shema refused to heed to the forum’s request to step down for Yuguda. Consequently the northern governors were said to have opted for a neutral candidate (Jang), forcing Shema and Yuguda to quit the race.
Jang’s last minute choice took many by surprise because Shema had earlier been touted as the president’s preference for Amaechi’s replacement. But a new twist was introduced to the NGF chairmanship election when Jonathan later shifted support to Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State, a development that created schisms among the governors with respect to supporting Jonathan’s choice.
Sunday Trust gathered that the presidency had been uncomfortable with Amaechi’s leadership of the forum and therefore perfected a plot to replace him. Amaechi’s relationship with the president turned sour when he openly criticized the federal government’s transformation agenda. Under Amaechi’s leadership, the NGF had tackled the president over critical issues on true federalism. For instance, the forum had rejected the formula for revenue allocation as well as the controversial Sovereign Wealth Fund.
The presidency did not fold its arms as it turned the heat on the embattled NGF chairman. This eventually played out when Amaechi’s aircraft was grounded for allegedly violating aviation rules. Observers believed the aircraft controversy was heightened by the cold relationship that existed between the governor and the president.
It was in this regard that analysts regarded last Friday’s NGF chairmanship election as a direct battle between Amaechi and the president’s preferred choice for the NGF.  With the controversy over the outcome of the election, it is not clear what becomes of the future of the forum but observers are of the view that the protracted crisis that had existed in the NGF prior to the election would certainly have implication on the future existence of the NGF.
The NGF had been polarized along the pro Amaechi group and the anti-Amaechi group; with the latter group believed to have the backing of the presidency. The question on the lips of analysts is that will Amaechi survive the might of the presidency and the forces opposed to his continued chairmanship of the NGF?
By press time there were unconfirmed reports that the anti- Amaechi group had concluded plans to inaugurate Governor Jang as chairman of the NGF. If this happens, the body would further be polarized as the pro Amaechi governors were said to be spoiling for a showdown.
If Amaechi is allowed to hold sway, it remains to be seen how his leadership would carry on with the presidency. This is because in the past only those endorsed by the presidency had emerged as chairmen of the forum. One observer puts it: “The truth of the matter is that the NGF cannot be independent of the presidency because anybody seeking to lead the body usually seeks the endorsement of the president; whether you like it or not the NGF leadership has to work with the president.”



sunday trust