Rotimi Amaechi emerges new Governors Forum chair

BY Musikilu Mojeed

May 23, 2011 05:42PM


Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, has been elected the new chairman of the Nigeria Governors' Forum. A governor at the meeting of the 36 state governors, still ongoing at Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, said Mr Amaechi emerged chairman after "some crazy politicking."

Mr Amaechi, a close associate of the incumbent chair, Bukola Saraki, was a late entrant into the race. He only openly indicated his interest in the position last night, the source said.

"As at the time we were heading for Ilorin, Amaechi was not among those in contention for the position," said the source. "But everything changed this morning and it was clear he was the frontrunner."

The source did not say whether an election took place or whether Mr Amaechi emerged chairman by consensus. By his election, the Rivers State governor has become the fifth chairperson of the 12-year-old NGF, others being former governors Abdullahi Adamu (Nasarawa), Victor Attah (Akwa Ibom), Lucky Igbinedion (Edo) and Bukola Saraki (Kwara).

Apart from Mr Amaechi, others who indicated interest in succeeding Mr Saraki were Peter Obi of Anambra, Babangida Aliyu of Niger and Sule Lamido of Jigawa. Babatunde Fashola of Lagos who many of his colleagues tipped for the position did not demonstrate significant interest in the position, another source said.

Bawss1:

Its a PDP thing isn't it? Anyways seems Fashola has more important things to do than head a forum that arguably has no positive impact on the average Nigerian.

Bawss1:

Its a PDP thing isn't it? Anyways seems Fashola has more important things to do than head a forum that arguably has no positive impact on the average Nigerian.

Bawss1:

Its a PDP thing isn't it? Anyways seems Fashola has more important things to do than head a forum that arguably has no positive impact on the average Nigerian.

dem_people:

My exact sentiments.

Gbawe:

The man is not bothered about the "chairman of this" and "CEO of that" syndrome many Nigerian leaders suffer from . Fashola is completely focused on the job Lagosians elected him to do. Nigerians would be mad , if they genuinely want accelerated development , not to demand that Fashola contest for our top job in 2015.

OAM4J:

+1

Exactly.

Gbawe:

My brother , it is like the squabble concerning the position of Speaker. Serious politicians , with plans to deliver for the electorate, will not be interested in positions that , for now , can't really be used to benefit the people because of the feudalistic and centrist influence of the majority ruling Party.

wesley80:

Governor Fashola was quoted recently during a public forum in Washington DC as saying and I quote 'the governors forum is now a competitive team and members try to out do the other in developin their states'. He further stated that 'there is now a strong peer review mechanism going round in the forum that energizes governors to be development conscious and work harder for their people' (its on this weeks Business world newspaper pg 28).
So would Fashola really not be interested in the leadership of such a forum? I dont think so and neither have i read anything on this thread that wld make me think otherwise. Fashola is a smart man and knows how to pick his battles and knowing the forum is dominated by PDP Governors, probably chose to play it cool. Every politician that really wants to make a difference not just in his immediate environment has got to aspire to some sort of higher office or position of influence and that is what a forum like the Governors forum is, or have we forgotten the role they played during the Yaradua saga?
Fashola is a good man that has done tremendously well, but pls lets not turn him to an all knowing n perfect 'Tin god'

Johndoe100:


Why won't they? Is he not Yoruba? They hope to foist him on the rest of the country. They are deceived.

ekt_bear:

As much as people might try to downplay it, being head of that forum is nice. Sometimes better to claim to not be interested in something that might be exceedingly difficult to obtain, given certain political realities

OAM4J:

Pls give me 2 benefits of heading such forum.

ekt_bear:

As much as people might try to downplay it, being head of that forum is nice. Sometimes better to claim to not be interested in something that might be exceedingly difficult to obtain, given certain political realities

Bawss1:

Its a PDP thing isn't it? Anyways seems Fashola has more important things to do than head a forum that arguably has no positive impact on the average Nigerian.

J12:

Indeed. Everything fashola currently does is in the interest of average Nigerian (not even lagosians).

cheikh:

@Op
It's basically a PDP governors' inspired forum etc which carries little if any 'weight' at all. It's of no consequence nor benefit to Lagosians which is ACN ruled. Fashola should remain focused as usual and leave grand standing to men ill repute and mediocrity.

Niger State Governor, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, on Tuesday poured encomiums on the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, saying the latter had distinguished himself with his performance.


The governor, who spoke while declaring open the 47th Annual International Conference of the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society in Minna, said the giant strides of Fashola in Lagos had made the Action Congress of Nigeria popular in the state.


Describing Fashola as a dedicated and committed public servant, the governor, who is seeking re-election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, said the performance of his counterpart in Lagos had become a nightmare for the PDP in the state.


He said the PDP waited patiently for ACN to deny Fashola a second-term ticket in order to grab him as a weapon to capture Lagos.


Specifically, he said while everybody had thought Lagos would not work, Fashola had proved critics wrong by transforming the city.


“I am speaking from the bottom of my heart. Fashola has performed; forget about partisan politics. Here is one person that has performed. People had given up on Lagos that it would not work, but he has made it work”, he said.


He described bad leadership as the bane of development in the country, observing that despite the efforts of leaders in the Arab world, the masses had risen up against them demanding a better bargain.

dplordx:

thats a BIG lie. I dont know this BRF no more. Hes proposing 205b to build an airport while the whole of Alimosho is utter ruin and squalor.
BRF is an elitist and hes only interested in going where Tinubu has interests. Please take a big look at this picture and tell me how this guy is far better than Amaechi?

ekt_bear:

As much as people might try to downplay it, being head of that forum is nice. Sometimes better to claim to not be interested in something that might be exceedingly difficult to obtain, given certain political realities

J12:

I was sarcastically questioning the naieveity of the folks here who put fashola on a god pedestal, how can people be so naive?