Lamido, Kwakwanso Block Moves To Sack Gov Amaechi As Governors Forum Chair

[img]http://pointblanknews.com/pbn/wp-content/themes/sahifa/timthumb.php?src=/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/amechi.jpg&h=330&w=660&a=c[/img]

Safe for the deft political moves of Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State and Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of Kano State, a plot to unseat incumbent Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi in the early hours of Thursday would have succeeded.

Amaechi also doubles as chairman of PDP governors.

Sources knowledgeable of the plot said the governors, irrespective of party affiliation, endorsed the leadership of Amaechi primarily because they sensed the hand of the president in the plot to remove him.

The duo of Lamido and Kwankwaso were said to have fore knowledge of the plot against Amaechi and swiftly moved around Governors to block it.

Although, Amaechi whose tenure is idly supposed to wind out by June this year, the governors asked Amaechi to continue.

The Source added that with Amaechi removed as NGF chairman it would naturally translate to his removal as chairman of the PDP governors, as all NGF chairman usually are governors forum chairmen.

The source further told Pointblanknews.com that two governors one from the South-South and the other from North-west were recruited to lead the coup against Amaechi.

The source added that governor Ibrahim Shema had been tipped to take over as chairman.

Signs that Amaechi’s influential position was under threat emerged when at an first meeting this year, the governors passed a vote of confidence on his leadership.

On why the presidency wanted Amaechi out of the position, the source said it was all about 2015 election.

Although Amaechi has been linked to emerge a running mate to a presidential candidate from the north, the source added that influence of the governors within the polity and particularly in the party is becoming uncomfortable for the presidency.

The face-off between the governors, who hitherto dictated what happened in the party and the Presidency, especially within the party has spiralled from selection of the party chairman, to the crisis in the Adamawa, the ouster of the party’s National Secretary, the tussle over who heads the Board of Trustees of the party, the sacking of South-West party which is loyal to former president, Olusegun Obasanjo and culminated in the one-term agreement saga, as raised by Niger State Governor, Babangida Aliyu.

The Source revealed that two northern governors, were instrumental to swaying the other governors in support of Amaechi.

They were able to convince other governors, the source said, on why Amaechi ought to continue.

However, the communique of the meeting read by the Chairman of the Forum Amaechi said “members exhaustively discussed the administration of the Forum and resolved that all organs of the Forum be made functional at the next meeting.

“Governors expressed deep concern and condemned the recent killings of health workers in Borno, Kano and Yobe; while re-afirming their solidarity with the Governors and people of these states.

“Forum commended the Governors of these States for their resolve to continue with their Polio eradication programme.”