Nineteen out of the nation’s 36 governors were absent when Plateau State Governor, Jonah Jang-led faction of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum opened its secretariat in Abuja on Thursday.

The secretariat is located at Nana Close, Maitama.

Signs that things were not going to work well started manifesting when words went round that Vice President Namadi Sambo, who was supposed to be the guest of honour at the event, would not come and did not send any representatives.

The acting Sole Administrator of the faction’s secretariat, Mr. Osaro Onaiwu, had told our correspondent on Tuesday that the vice president would inaugurate the secretariat.

Aside Jang, governors that were at the event, were those of Kogi, Taraba, Kaduna, Cross River, Katisina, Abia, Anambra, Delta and Ebonyi.

Others included Ondo, Benue (deputy), Bauchi, Akwa Ibom, Gombe (deputy) and Bayelsa.

Others stayed away from the event.

While unveiling the secretariat, Jang said two governors sent their apologies.

He, however, did not mention their names.

Flags of political parties that produced governors were hung outside the premises of the secretariat.

These are Peoples Democratic Party, the Action Congress of Nigeria, the Congress for Progressive Change, the Labour Party and the All Nigeria Peoples Party.

Some aides of the governors were seen discussing the refusal of majority of the governors to be at the event.

They said the number of those who attended might have confirmed the number of votes Jang scored at the Governors’ forum, which was held in Abuja on Friday.

While Jang scored 16 votes, Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, scored 19.

But the Jang faction insisted that since their candidate was endorsed by the majority of the governors before voting, then he should be considered the winner of the election.

Speaking with journalists after a tour of the secretariat in company with other governors, Jang said he was impressed with what he saw.

He also said he would embark on reconciliation, adding that the opening of the secretariat was a new beginning in the Forum.

Jang said, “I want to thank you very sincerely for honouring our invitation to come for the opening of the secretariat of the NGF today.

“We have not had any formal meeting (today), we went round and saw what they have in the secretariat.

“We want to take this opportunity to congratulate Mr. President on the 14th year if Nigeria’s democracy and the presentation of his mid-term report, which he presented at the International Conference Centre on Wednesday.

“We wish him good health, we wish him everything and we support his transformation agenda.”

He disagreed with the notion that the opening of the factional secretariat was not a sign that the Forum was already collapsing.

He said, “Who said so? When did we just open the secretariat? You know we have been meeting at individual’s governor’s lodge before and we decided we should be meeting on a new real ground so that we are not under the influence of any governor.

“Every governor would be coming here for meeting and I wish to say that we are working hard to reconcile each other. You heard what I said in Jos and that we will be doing our politics for the nation.

“We are appealing to our colleagues to work together for the glory of the country.”

Also speaking at the occasion, the Governor of Bayelsa State, Mr. Seriake Dickson, said it was wrong to use the NGF for personal ambition.

He said the Forum was also not to be used to promote an agenda or an alternative government.

The governor said, “It (the opening of the factional office) is a new dawn in NGF; this is what we ought to have done in the first place.

“This Forum must not be used to promote personal ambition; it should be used to promote somebody’s ego.

“This Forum is there to serve as a non-partisan body for development and responding for critical issues. That is the new spirit here now.

“We are poised to make a new beginning and to serve a message that this Forum should not be used for personal aggrandisement, this Forum does not exist to be used to as a platform or a tool for antagonising the President and people in authority.

“This Forum is not to be used to promote an agenda or promoting an alternative government.”

Asked about the poor attendance of the event by the governors, Dickson said there was nothing new about it, adding that “the meeting in Kwara State where Governor Amaechi was elected was attended by seven governors and six deputies. That makes it 13.”
http://www.punchng.com/news/19-govs-shun-jang-ngf-factions-meeting/

http://www.emmanuelbabatunde.com/2013/05/19-govs-shun-jang-ngf-factions-meeting.html

This guy is another retardeen like GEJ! Forget his bumbling over NGF chairmanship for a second, just look at his face here!

Even the VP jumped ship. They have minority numbers in their fraudulently organized forum. What a very big SHAME to all those looking st*upid at this gathering of frauds!

NGF should be scrapped.

Billyonaire: NGF should be scrapped.

You wouldn't have said that if Jang had legitimately won. You want it scrapped because Amaechi won and GEJ/Jang lost the NGF election.

Whether anybody likes it or not Amaechi won the NGF elections so Jang and his camp should stop deceiving themselves

Mr.Jang U r nw Too Old To Rule... Pls Retire ur Ugly self abeg ....

Jang said two govs sent apologies. Punch is just as usual swimming in hate and mischief. Let Amaechi try calling for his own meeting and let us see those that attend.

Billyonaire: NGF should be scrapped.

Scrap them simply because they pose a threat to retardeen-in-chief ? This is democracy and your president should accept the fact that the governors have the freedom of expression,thought,association and lawful assembly !

gregg2: Jang said two govs sent apologies. Punch is just as usual swimming in hate and mischief. Let Amaechi try calling for his own meeting and let us see those that attend.

Why should anyone believe whatever comes out of Jang's mouth?

Amaechi caused all of this controversy because of his greed and lust for power. No wonder he's alligning with the north to destabilize the country

J12: Amaechi caused all of this controversy because of his greed and lust for power. No wonder he's alligning with the north to destabilize the country

What is 'greedy' about someone expressing their right and freedom to aspire for a greater responsibility If the retardeen truely thinks he has done well and is as popular as he wants people to believe, why is he so avarsed to and feel threatened by anyone who seems interested in contesting for the stool he occupies.

On a level playin field, that clown wouldn't win a village council election even in Otuoke.

J12: Amaechi caused all of this controversy because of his greed and lust for power. No wonder he's alligning with the north to destabilize the country

Makes him and Jonathan buddy

Signs that things were not going to work well
started manifesting when words went round
that Vice President Namadi Sambo, who was
supposed to be the guest of honour at the
event, would not come and did not send any
representatives.

Who else have read the novel; The rage of Angels?

Nice move from Sambo. Its high time the North starts carving a niche for themselves if they truly want to snatch power from GEJ. They shouldn't just fold their arms and watch Amaechi fight the battle alone.

Btw, what is my state governor finding in that meeting?

But the Jang faction insisted that since. their
candidate was endorsed by the majority of the
governors before voting, then he should be
considered the winner of the election.

The above goes a long way to show that, these people are rogues, liars and thieves, we can't trust them with our resources. They are not transparent.

Bunch of thugs and thieves.

Billyonaire: NGF should be scrapped.

The NGF has already been broken and deeply polarized by the two Jonahs - Jang and Jonathan.

It's the same mentality of 'if I can't get it, you won't get it' that you've expressed here. It's very bad.

Did any of you call for the scrapping of the NGF when Saraki (PDP) was the Chairman and in the first tenure of Amaechi?

Didn't some of you boast that the opening of the hurriedly rented office would be graced by a majority of the governors and shame Amaechi?

You're asking for the scrapping of the forum now because:

It has been used to whip your boss;
It has been used to beat your boss' candidate/minion in his old age - Jang;

It has been used to slap your boss' SS errand boy - Akpabio;
It has been used to kick your boss' SE forum messenger - Obi

It has been used to wallop your boss' stooge in the SS - Seriake
It's been used to knock your boss' lackey in the SW - Mimiko

It has also been used to disgrace those of you who bragged that the attendance at the opening would shame Amaechi.

It has made Amaechi look large and appear stronger. That's the truth. Whether or not Amaechi will survive it to the end, I don't know. But for now, he has roundly shamed all of you.

On another note, when will government adopt or copy the speed used in renting the Abuja office by the NGF faction and hiring an administrator for the NGF to solve our power, road and health sector problems?

payless:


You wouldn't have said that if Jang had legitimately won. You want it scrapped because Amaechi won and GEJ/Jang lost the NGF election.

actually, he said it as a tribalist. Nothing else

CyberG: This guy is another retardeen like GEJ! Forget his bumbling over NGF chairmanship for a second, just look at his face here!

lol! The old cargo has been in power as long as i can remember. I heard he was once a military administrator during a military regime. Recycling of old and ailing products.

~Bluetooth:


I don't know why mo'r'ons should be allowed to comment on this board.

The last time I checked, the right to speak and be heard is in the constitution. The fact that someone is not on the same page with you politically doesn't make him a mo'r'on and besides politics is all about interest. Wait for your turn.

eGuerrilla:

An unwise but fool's saying from an expired brain! I wonder when these old men will retire from politics.

Smh. I really wonder where all this Amaechi sympathy is coming from. Same people applauding him will definitely be the same people disgracing him tommorow.
Nigerians never learn.

payless:



Why should anyone believe whatever comes out of Jang's mouth?

You dey mind am?
They were simply being diplomatic if at all he was saying the truth. A governor did send his deputy to represent him and they could easily have sent a representative.

please what is the essence of Gov.forum? is there any reason to move Nigeria forward through this forum? so many questions but I guess no answer.
may God help naija

But wait o...Of what use is this Governors Forum in the first place. What have they achieved in their years of existence.

Jonathan is getting too arrogant.

The support people have for the State of Emergency is not the same as support for GEJ.

payless:


You wouldn't have said that if Jang had legitimately won. You want it scrapped because Amaechi won and GEJ/Jang lost the NGF election.

It has been a pointless idea from the start, I don't think its in the constitution, what development has this gathering added to an ordinary mans life? Nothing.

gregg2: Jang said two govs sent apologies. Punch is just as usual swimming in hate and mischief. Let Amaechi try calling for his own meeting and let us see those that attend.

Amaechi won't call 4 meeting to avoid embarrassing himself because he knows that he can't pull more than ten governors and they are going to be mainly APC governors.

For Enugu state Governor not to come for the event is because he might be too busy to make it because I am sure he's strongly behind Jang.... As for Nassarawa he might be unstable.... Jang is winning finally.