President Goodluck Jonathan has moved to formally recognise Plateau State Governor, Jonah Jang, as the chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum.

Jonathan had consistently denied any link to the intrigues that preceded the May 24 election of a new chairman of the forum.

The President had also denied backing any candidate after a crisis erupted over the declaration that Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, beat Jang by 19 – 16 votes in the election.

But, Jonathan shifted ground on Thursday night at the PDP family dinner in Abuja, when in his address he recognised Jang as “the chairman of the NGF.”

On Friday, the Plateau State governor led 12 governors and two deputy governors to a meeting with the President, where a source said Jonathan formally recognised Jang as the winner of the election and pledged to do all in his power to ensure a smooth tenure for Jang.

Jonathan’s volte-face came some days after a video recording of the election was circulated on social media and shown on a private television station. The recording indicated that Amaechi actually got 19 votes while Jang garnered 16.

Governors at Friday’s meeting were Liyel Imoke (Cross River); Segun Mimiko (Ondo); Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta); Peter Obi (Anambra); Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa); Theodore Orji (Abia); Ramalan Yero (Kaduna); Ibrahim Dakwambo (Gombe); Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom); Idris Wada (Kogi); Ibrahim Shema (Katsina); Isa Yuguda (Bauchi).

The deputy governors of Taraba, Garba Umar, and Benue, Steven Lawani, represented their states at the parley, which came less than 24 hours after the group inaugurated its secretariat in Maitama, Abuja.

The source told Saturday PUNCH that the President and the governors discussed ways of preventing Amaechi from taking control of the forum.

The source said they also discussed the strengthening of the PDP “in the face of recent challenges.”

Saturday PUNCH also learnt that the meeting considered security challenges in the country, the state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states and further steps to be taken to wipe out the extremist Boko Haram sect.

They also discussed the possibility of convening a National Executive Committee meeting of the PDP in the shortest possible time.

However, the pro-Jang group was mandated to break the ranks of the pro-Amaechi group and woo them to the side of “the President’s men,” the source added.

They also discussed strategies for ‘capturing’ Anambra and Ekiti states in the governorship elections scheduled for 2014 in both states.

They agreed that efforts would be made to settle any crisis in both states to ensure a smooth sail for the PDP during the elections.

Jang told State House correspondents after the meeting that he led the team of governors in his capacity as their chairman to congratulate the President on his mid-term achievements and to consult with him on national issues.

He said, “We have met with Mr. President with me leading a team of governors from the Nigerian Governors’ Forum to congratulate Mr. President and to consult with him on very serious national issues.

“You know the security problem in the country and what we need to do in the coming two years to ensure that democracy stabilises and development continues in the country.

“Well, let me tell you there is no factionalisation in the NGF. The NGF is one and I am the chairman of the NGF.”

When the governors discovered that journalists were bent on asking more probing questions, they quickly led Jang away.

After emerging from Jonathan’s office, the governors stopped at two different spots between the President’s office and the entrance to the briefing room where journalists were waiting for them.

On both instances, the governors conferred for about five minutes each.

They insisted that the short interview would hold while they were standing because some of them were in a hurry to go for Juma’at prayers.

PDP leaders had warned Amaechi against seeking a second term as the NGF chairman, a directive the governor ignored.

In a swift reaction to his victory, PDP suspended Amaechi for alleged disobedience to the Rivers State chapter’s order for him to reinstate the chairman of Obio Akpor Local Government in the state, Mr. Timothy Nsirim.

The President’s meeting with members of the Jang faction might have confirmed that he has more than a passing interest in the group.

Meanwhile, Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, on Friday said Amaechi was validly elected as the NGF chairman.

In a statement by his Special Adviser, Media and Public Affairs, Prince Kassim Afegbua, Oshiomhole said it was surprising that governors who participated in the election turned around to deny the result.

He also said it was shocking that “governors who claim to be duly elected representatives of their States could lower the bar of credibility and integrity just for the sake of dubious politics.” He debunked a media report (not PUNCH) that Amaechi’s travails began when he donated N500m to Oshiomhole’s re-election campaign, noting that the allegation was “spurious, very ridiculous and roguish.”

The statement titled ‘Governor Amaechi did not donate to Oshiomhole campaign,’ said it was not true that the Rivers State governor spent two nights in Benin before, during and after the campaign.

The statement said there was nothing wrong with Amaechi attending Oshiomhole’s inauguration in his capacity as the NGF chairman.

“We find it utterly misleading for anyone to deliberately raise unverifiable claims just to give the Rivers State Governor a bad name and portray the Edo State governor in bad light with respect to campaign funds and management of same. The relevant provisions of the Electoral Act 2006 (as amended) frown on such bogus donations by either an individual or corporate body for the campaign of any individual candidate running for election.

“The beauty of democracy and credible elections is the exhibition of the spirit of sportsmanship by the loser and his party, and not this invidious show of hostility by the opposition PDP. When the Comrade Governor earlier referred to the PDP as a party of rogues, the party went for his jugular by calling him unprintable names and churning out all manners of lies and concocted tales just to make an impression. “With the recent outcome of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum election which returned Governor Amaechi as duly elected, and following the U-turn of those who participated in the exercise, the Comrade governor’s roguish description of the PDP has become instructively appropriate.

“It is better for the PDP to look for other reasons why it has wrongly taken certain actions against one of its own, than looking for convenient ways to give a dog a bad name in order to hang it. It is shameful that governors who claim to be duly elected representatives of their States could lower the bar of credibility and integrity just for the sake of dubious politics.”

Attempts to obtain comments from the Action Congress of Nigeria and Congress for Progressive Change on Friday failed as their spokesmen did not respond to calls and text messages to their phones.



Source

Before nko? Did you honestly expect him to endorse the rogue faction consisting of opposition rodents?

NGF officially dead cuz I don't see AC N governors joining Jang's faction.

I.Joan:


On Friday, the Plateau State governor led 12 governors and two deputy governors to a meeting with the President, where a source said Jonathan formally recognised Jang as the winner of the election and pledged to do all in his power to ensure a smooth tenure for Jang.Governors at Friday’s meeting were Liyel Imoke (Cross River); Segun Mimiko (Ondo); Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta); Peter Obi (Anambra); Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa); Theodore Orji (Abia); Ramalan Yero (Kaduna); Ibrahim Dakwambo (Gombe); Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom); Idris Wada (Kogi); Ibrahim Shema (Katsina); Isa Yuguda (Bauchi).
The source told Saturday PUNCH that the President and the governors discussed ways of preventing Amaechi from taking control of the forum.
Saturday PUNCH also learnt that the meeting considered security challenges in the country, the state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states and further steps to be taken to wipe out the extremist Boko Haram sect.
They also discussed strategies for ‘capturing’ Anambra and Ekiti states in the governorship elections scheduled for 2014 in both states.

They agreed that efforts would be made to settle any crisis in both states to ensure a smooth sail for the PDP during the elections.

Are you saying that Peter Obi participated in a 'PDP' meeting where plans to recapture Anambra state by the PDP were discussed? This must be a joke!

graphicsplay:


Are you saying that Peter Obi participated in a 'PDP' meeting where plans to recapture Anambra state by the PDP were discussed? This must be a joke!

Peter Obi is in APGA but the APGA PDP faction. They will eventually collapse into PDP while his counterpart Rochas Okorocha is also in APGA but the APGA APGA faction which will collapse into APC. APGA is a just a nomenclature, it is good as dead.

But they said Jang has 16, Amaechi has 19.
This Govs Forum is a joke.
Can't they v another election ie there's òjóró (malpractices).
________________________
[b]Last Bullet:[/b]PDP get too much katakata!

thanks mr president for ur endorsement of jang as chairman ngf but sir wudnt it b wise to endorse policies that will curb corruption' improve power n tackle unemployment crisis in the country. pls open ur eyes well well before u award urself passmark in governance.Nairalanders can we endorse Gej for 2015 election?

Of course!! Jonathan will endorse the faction of the NGF that will not stand up to him on anything. Fuel subsidy scandal,shambolic federal government projects in states, etc...but sadly jonathan has now really amplified ameachi's wing. Because nigerians will now see a clear disperity!! When jonathan does anything, jang and his crew will lick hell out of his ass while ameachi and his crew will ask questions and demand accountability.

Noted.

like Peter Obi, like Mimiko

what do you expect of Jonathan, the action make me hate him more... is he a dictator or what?

'Runs to take my china made 3D SPECTACLE'dis is going to be a hot thread.oya let the fight begin.

Look at this government that screams good governance, respect for the rule of law everyday, the opposite is what they keep doing. Not to talk of the pseudo achievements they present to the public. Meanwhile some Nigerians are caught up in a trance that ' GEJ is working' If all these does not open your eye then Shame on you all!! Shame on GEJ!

So much has been said and proven about this our disfunctional president, now let's act.
SOLUTION: come 2015 No to GEJ! NO to PDP!! No to clulessness!!!

Yes to another party!!

Wat r d problemz of dis old foolsh men dem self,,GEJ shud focus mor on issue of 9rians rada dan dis polithiefians..we need 2 hear n feel positive changs in our power sector,,security of lifz in d nation,,stabl economic growth etc..GEJ plz b wise..

Nawa o ...
But what else were you guys expecting?
To dumb Jang? Like seriously ?

Guys, with all the NGF election brouhaha, I can confirm to you that our Governors are not smart after all.
GEJ knows that the NGF is a very strong forum and for him to realise his 2015 ambition he either gets the NGF on his side or break them. He has succeeded in breaking them. I am surprised that all the Governors see is Amaechi or Jang faction without realising that their wings have been clipped.
ANY NGF CHAIRMAN THAT HAS THE SUPPORT OF A SITTING PRESIDENT IS AN ENEMY OF THE NATION. Be rest assured that GEJ currently has support of the states led by Jang faction.
Now I agree GEJ has done well, he has done well at destroying anything democratic in Nigeria.
SMH.

cooltone:
Peter Obi is in APGA but the APGA PDP faction. They will eventually collapse into PDP while his counterpart Rochas Okorocha is also in APGA but the APGA APGA faction which will collapse into APC. APGA is a just a nomenclature, it is good as dead.

That's my prediction too.

Jonathan Odechukwu Abdul El Retardeen promoting and condoning rigging, crookedness and illegalities is nothing new. The man is a clown and his comedic administration is a joke.

His Aso Rock days are numbered...

NGF is clinically dead.

Eko Ile: Jonathan OdeEkoIle Abdul El Retardeen promoting and condoning rigging, crookedness and illegalities is nothing new. I am a clown and my comedic administration is a joke.

His Aso Rock days are numbered...

FIXED.

Am not surprise

Realy I wasted my time voting for GEJ,but that costly mistake will never happen again in this life.

myners007 :
thanks mr president for ur endorsement of jang as chairman ngf but sir wudnt it b wise to endorse policies that will curb corruption' improve power n tackle unemployment crisis in the country. pls open ur eyes well well before u award urself passmark in governance.Nairalanders can we endorse Gej for 2015 election?

For where naa....the guy is as good as dead.

NGF finally dead. GEJ the biggest winner.

Now the Amaechi faction has nobody supporting them. Too bad

Amaechi's faction should convoke a meeting and install Amaechi as NGF chairman, make entropy full everywhere, shebi na d order of the day in Nigeria.

When Buhari asked for credible elections come 2015 to avoid the outbreak of chaos,many were still intoxicated on the ogogoro called goodluck
Why did the Jang gang not protest Amaechi couldn't seek reelection BEFORE the election?
Why did the Jang and his gang PARTAKE in the election if Amaechi was not a viable candidate?
Why did Jang and his gang NOT IMMEDIATELY PROTEST amongst themselves when the result was declared s we saw in the video?
Why is Ebele such a good winner(2011 presidency) but a bad loser(NGF)?
We have never had a more divisive,provincial and ethically biased president in Nigeria,I stand to be corrected.
If a Ebele Jonathan can put a presidential seal of approval on the barefaced sham carried out by Jang's gang ,then its certain not only dogs and baboons will spill red fluid come 2015

the fear of amaechi is d begining of d open nyanshness of gej


did any of you watch bamanga tukur's drunk speech at the pdp dinner??

pro01: Before nko? Did you honestly expect him to endorse the rogue faction consisting of opposition rodents?

Come to think of it, there is no constitutional provision for the Nigeria Governors' Forum. I also don't see how such an illegal and unconstitutional arrangement will benefit this nation in the long run.

oshyno: NGF officially dead cuz I don't see AC N governors joining Jang's faction.

I hope it dies because I cannot see what good this unconstitutional, undemocratic gathering has contributed to our democracy or the fortunes of Nigerians in general. I'm personally disappointed GEJ is lending an ear to this charade. The governors should just return to their states to improve the well-being of their constituents. If they have national interests to address, they have representatives in the House and senate to do that if and only if they can work properly with them.

ok

lucenzo: like Peter Obi, like Mimiko

I never knew Mimiko is this hopeless.

Still wondering how that guy got elected and re-elected into office as Ondo state governor.

Charlatans don't have a place in SW. How did this one happen? A charlatan heading one of our states?