Lengthy but insightful read. Nairalanders can read the parts in bold to get the gist.

http://saharareporters.com/article/nigeria-governors-forum-and-defeat-garrison-candidates-prelude-2015-salihu-moh-lukman

Nigeria Governors Forum and the Defeat of the Garrison Candidates: A Prelude to 2015 By Salihu Moh. Lukman
Posted: May 25, 2013 - 13:29
By Salihu Moh. Lukman
The election of Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) finally held on Friday, May 24 and Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State has emerged victorious. Polling 19 votes out of 35 and his opponent Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau got 16 votes. The election result was significant not just for the NGF but for the nation's democracy. One governor, Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe State, was absent and did not vote. The election would have held since February but was postponed about twice.

Development around the NGF election is not so much about Amaechi, Jang or the NGF as an association but about the process of affirming the values that recognizes producing winners and losers through acceptable processes. More important, it was about producing leaders through fair elections. The dramas and episodes around the emergence of PDP flag bearers for the election (from Governor Shema to Governor Yuguda and finally Jang) are issues that definitely reflected existing power configurations and the normal divisive strategies using regional boundaries especially in PDP.

Important as personalities represented by Amaechi or Jang and organisations such as NGF, it is the meaning and value associated with them that might have generated interest. Values not necessarily associated with partisan affiliations or ideological commitment but largely driven by current relationship with the presidency. Somehow, given the high interest of the leadership of the ruling PDP against Amaechi and the strategic move to mobilise (and perhaps intimidate) PDP governors against Amaechi, many would have expected that Amaechi will lose the election.

So far, what has happened over the years in the case of the NGF is that consultations have become regular, on monthly basis, and decisions taken were given some life. Successive leaders of NGF, from former Governors Abdullahi Adamu, Victor Attah and Bukola Saraki to current tenure of Rotimi Amaechi, all made their contributions. Through these leaders, NGF gradually evolved and it is still being shaped by so many factors. The interests around the May 24 election of Amaechi have produced additional factors in shaping the process of the development of Nigeria's democracy. There were basically two interests that have developed and become very formidably antagonistic to each other. It is President Jonathan and PDP leadership on the one hand against the state governors represented by Amaechi on the other. The interests have broken party lines. How did this happen?

This may perhaps be as a result of two fundamental factors. The first is that NGF being an association of mainly state governors is an association of equals. The second is that although they (governors) may have come together to form NGF without clear understanding of their potentials, challenges of responding to authoritarian orientation of the presidency, which was inherited after years of military rule come with enormous financial challenges, and over time, activities of NGF since its formation has created very high consciousness among governors about the capacity of state governments, acting as a collective, to neutralise or contest issues with federal government, represented by the presidency.

One of the reasons that made the NGF elections very interesting was the strong interest of President Jonathan in getting Amaechi out of the NGF. Largely on account of perhaps the role of Amaechi as NGF Chairman in providing leadership to Governors which resulted in situations where the governors contested some issues with the Federal Government, President Jonathan wanted Amaechi out of NGF by all means. Some of the issues that pitched the NGF against the Presidency include the Sovereign Wealth Fund, campaign for constitutional review to reduce powers of federal government in favour of states, review of revenue allocation formula, etc.

In some ways, the fact of the consciousness by governors about their capacity as a collective to contest issues with the presidency is not something that can be nullified through even the defeat of Amaechi. Assuming Amaechi has lost the election, it would have just been a matter of time before any person taking over the position of NGF Chairman finds himself in opposition to some position of the president, including Jang. For instance, will Jang or anyone on the side of PDP support the presidency on matters of discretionary declaration of oil revenue bearing in mind that what they get from the federation account is a function of what is declared which often is less than actual receipt? Will Jang or anyone tolerate unilateral policy initiative from the federal government that will result in committing state governments to expend resources?

These are issues that in so many respects conferred undue powers and privileges to the federal government on matters of controlling resources and revenue there from over states. They are matters that are at the heart of national efforts to redefine the orientation of our federalism. There may be the temptation to dismiss these issues with reference to the performance of the Governors, especially in regard to problems of lack of accountability and mismanagement of resources in our state governments. This no doubt does not invalidate the principles that democratic leadership is driven by the needs of members determined through processes of consultations.

We may disagree with the specification of what any category of people would define as their needs. The fact remain that members of organisations should have the right to determine what they want and it is a normal healthy democratic requirement which should proliferate on a national scale to guarantee national democratic order. Apart from the needs of members, the right of dissent is also an important attribute of democracy. Unfortunately, this too is continually being trampled upon.

Being a member of PDP, Amaechi’s candidature is in itself clearly an act of dissent, if you like rebellion against his own party. Together with Amaechi in this rebellion would be all PDP governors who supported and voted for him. From the result of the election, there are clearly 8 PDP governors, Amaechi inclusive. On the other side is also the fact that two so-called opposition governors, Peter Obi of Anambra and Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo have joined PDP in the anti-Amaechi presidency plot.

What this means is that the presidency is gradually facilitating a process of restructuring Nigeria into a bipartisan political orientation based on PDP and anti-PDP divide. From the NGF election, it is a divide in which there are many in today’s PDP that are anti-PDP. They include certainly the 8 PDP governors that are on Amaechi’s side. Peter Obi and Olusegun Mimiko who are today not direct members of PDP are aligned to PDP and it will only be a matter of time before they take their rightful places inside PDP.

Given the contemporary political reality of Nigeria whereby citizens are just fed up by the ruling PDP and all the governance crisis it has produced, any rebellion against PDP may be popular. Beyond rebellion however, there is the fact that the Ameachi rebellion against PDP has all the attributes of being well organised. The fact of the APC governors being united may have definitely played a role. However, more significant was the mobilisational capacity of the anti-PDP rebellion in NGF having succeeded to win the support of 8 PDP governors. It demonstrated the fact that with organisation, the powerful and mighty can be defeated and the people can take charge of their destiny.

Nigerians may have their individual opinion. What is very instructive with the events around the NGF May 24 election of Rotimi Amaechi was that an election held and Amaechi was declared the winner. In so many ways, it was a victory against President Goodluck Jonathan and a victory against PDP. The interesting thing was that acting perhaps under the instruction of President Goodluck Jonathan, Governor Godswill Akpabio as Chairman of so-called PDP Governors forum convened another meeting at Akwa Ibom house shortly after and declared that it was Governor Jang that was elected and circulated some purported results showing that 19 Governors have elected Jang. Interestingly, among the 19 Governors that were alleged to have elected Jang include Yobe Governor who was absent at the May 24 meeting where the election held.

It is not so much that the result of the election is being contested but the manner of contest which seeks to basically generate confusion and in the process create legitimacy crisis for the second tenure of Governor Rotimi Amaechi as the Chairman of NGF. One would ordinarily expect that the Governors under Akpabio would seek to redress all grievances from the May 24 election through due process.

Due process could have meant that they make demands which may include asking for another meeting to review the conduct of the elections. And given that they are claiming to have 19 Governors on their side, it would have been a comfortable majority that could have given them the confidence to even move for the removal of Amaechi at the next meeting. The second option would have required that they seek legal intervention through the courts. There is the third option of sanctioning Amaechi and all PDP governors that may have acted contrary to party decisions. This may result in dismal of all PDP governors that are on the side of Amaechi from the party.

The only explanation to justify the position taken by the Akpabio led group of Governors would have been a reflection of their weakness which would have signalled inability to get any of the three scenarios highlighted. Since the PDP and the presidency is in control of security agencies, any confusion may translate into influencing the conduct of security operatives in favour of the Akpabio/Jang group and to that extent therefore coercing structures of the NGF especially the secretariat to compromise its loyalty to the Amaechi leadership. This will be in tandem with what can be described as garrison mentality that has been driving our democracy since 1999 whereby the position of the President must reign supreme and all party functionaries must subordinate themselves to that. In some ways, this means that the President must win every election in which he/she has interest. Supremacy of members and sovereignty of the people is at best a cliché for those who are interested.

The concern now is not so much that there is an election that was contested and has produced the defeat of the candidate promoted by the PDP and presidency. The main challenge is that the response to the defeat by both the defeated candidate, Jang, and perhaps the ruling PDP is to create confusion that may lead to the dismantling of the NGF as an organisation. The implication of this is that it will give the federal government and the presidency unfettered and uncontested power to govern the country, including trespassing into matters that are constitutionally reserve for states.

This is going to be very inimical to our democratic development as a nation for two reasons. First, it would mean that all organisations in the country must exist at the pleasure of the PDP and presidency. Secondly, should the current approach to orchestrate confusion and delegitimize the NGF succeed, it would mean that any attempt to unseat President Goddluck using constitutional means can be greeted with similar response in 2015. It was the strategy that Laurent Gbagbo employed in 2010 in Cote d’Ivoire following his defeat by Hassan Ouattara which led to months of crisis resulting in loss of lives and property. The international community had to intervene to restore sanity and affirm the sanctity of the 2010 elections.

The lesson therefore is that with the Presidency and PDP being on the driving seat in the unfolding leadership drama in NGF, it may as well be a prelude of what to expect in 2015 should Nigerians decide to vote out PDP and President Goodluck Jonathan out of office. The possible response of both PDP and President Goodluck Jonathan may be to refuse to accept the result and declare himself the winner of the election as opposed to whatever INEC may return. One will hope that this will be a complete wrong scenario. However, it is no doubt a possible scenario.

Against the background of warmongering noise of some militant groups from Niger Delta warning the nation about the consequence of not returning Goodluck for a second tenure in 2015, this may be a way to say that Goodluck will rule Nigeria for a second term with or without the votes of Nigerians. The capacity of Nigerian governors under the NGF to affirm the sanctity of their choice of leadership therefore is the first test of whether as a people, Nigerians can begin to send the right signal to PDP and President Goodluck. That signal should in unmistakable terms resoundingly highlight that all leaders must be elected through constitutional means.

It is also instructive that the victory of Amaechi reflects some political engineering that recognise the need to mobilise across ethnic, religious and regional lines. In fact, what is very attractive with respect to development around the NGF May 24 elections is that divisions are not influenced rigidly by our old primordial lines. What this mean is that moving towards 2015, the defeat of PDP may only be possible through strong mobilisation across all ethnic groups, religions and region.

For our APC, given the central role of our governors in the NGF May 24 election of Amaechi, to what extent will this experience help to prepare our merging parties for the rollout of APC? There may be the temptation to over celebrate. The truth is that APC leaders just need to recognise that Amaechi’s victory is just a reflection of the strength of mobilisation. The message to APC therefore is if APC is to be taken seriously as a party coming with strong potential to defeat PDP, it must come with strong membership mobilisation strategy!

smlukman@gmail.com

Gbawe hold on!
Let me secure this space. Wanna watch the 2nd half of the champion's league.
Will come back later to comment.

Tolexander: Gbawe hold on!
Let me secure this space. Wanna watch the 2nd half of the champion's league.
Will come back later to comment.

Watching as well. Dortmund on top so far. Final day Heartache for Bayern on the card again?

Gbawe: Lengthy but insightful read. Nairalanders can read the parts in bold to get the gist.

http://saharareporters.com/article/nigeria-governors-forum-and-defeat-garrison-candidates-prelude-2015-salihu-moh-lukman

rought

RUBBISH! the election was rigged

Gbawe: Lengthy but insightful read. Nairalanders can read the parts in bold to get the gist.

http://saharareporters.com/article/nigeria-governors-forum-and-defeat-garrison-candidates-prelude-2015-salihu-moh-lukman

Who wrote this trash?

This is an excellent article that captures the implications of that election in so many ways. The election was more of a referendum on 2015 because it was not, strictly speaking, PDP versus others, or North versus South. It was GEJ versus others in a plain and an undisguised manner. The coalition from either side was Multi-ethnic,region, religion,"parties", more like multi-everything.

Dramatic and unmistakable in implications as the election results were, I still believed that the fall out was not well managed by Akpabio, the arrow head of GEJ's camp. A simple congratulation would have been in order. The election result was far from consensus and Amaechi, being an intelligent fellow, would have embraced a sort of self restraint throughout his term. Even his acceptance or victory speech was essentially a reflection of this new reality.

Whatever the final outcome Amaechi has nothing to lose but Akpabio has driven himself and GEJ to frenzy now that's difficult to back down without some sort of humiliation.

The writer demonstrated how ill-informed he is in Nigeria political struggle.
That he must have spent hours writing this, I think he need to spend more time thinking through whatever he writes, else his articles will only be fit for thrash bin.

Prof Corruption: This is an excellent article that captures the implications of that election in so many ways. The election was more of a referendum on 2015 because it was not, strictly speaking, PDP versus others, or North versus South. It was GEJ versus others in a plain and an undisguised manner. The coalition from either side was Multi-ethnic,region, religion,"parties", more like multi-everything.

Dramatic and unmistakable in implications as the election results were, I still believed that the fall out was not well managed by Akpabio, the arrow head of GEJ's camp. A simple congratulation would have been in order. The election result was far from consensus and Amaechi, being an intelligent fellow, would have embraced a sort of self restraint throughout his term. Even his acceptance or victory speech was essentially a reflection of this new reality.

Whatever the final outcome Amaechi has nothing to lose but Akpabio has driven himself and GEJ to frenzy now that's difficult to back down without some sort of humiliation.

Indeed. The political establishment will be taking salient lessons from events unfolding and noting that, regardless of what is said publicly, Nigeria is facing another Abacha-esque sit-tight menace. What lover of democracy must do, especially those committed to the development of our nascent one, is stand up and be counted as Amaechi is doing.

It is not healthy for one office to be unquestioningly powerful to the extent of being able able to cower and bully everything and everyone to the detriment of Nigeria's development. When such an office is occupied by an unprincipled, undemocratic, opportunistic, divisive and unfit character, such as is the case now, then well-meaning political stakeholders must stand up bravely to be counted to see off the sort of vacuous and clueless sit-tight leadership that has severely blighted the development of Africa.

But seriously, why is the chairmanship of the Governors forum taken so serious? Why is it so important?

Hmmm Governors Forum

[quote author=Gbawe]
Nigeria is facing another Abacha-esque sit-tight menace.

Nigeria constitution guarantees two terms to every elected office holders. And if exercising constitutional right is your idea of Abacha-esque sit-tight menace, then the likes of Aregbesola, Kayode Fayemi and others should be condemned the same way you guys are condemning GEJ.

What lover of democracy must do, especially those committed to the development of our nascent one, is stand up and be counted as Amaechi is doing.


How did he stand up for democracy? Lucky Igbinedion led governor's forum, there was no division amongst their ranks.
Bukola Saraki led the same forum even at a critical moment, yet there was no division, Amaechi led the same team and in 2 year everybody goes in different ways. There was NGF, SEGF, SSGF and all kinds. This shows his kind of personality.
How come in less than 24 hours, 18 governors came together to support Jonah Jang?
Where on earth have you heard about an election that the contestant is a returning officer? What democracy is that?


It is not healthy for one office to be unquestioningly powerful to the extent of being able able to cower and bully everything and everyone to the detriment of Nigeria's development. When such an office is occupied by an unprincipled, undemocratic, opportunistic, divisive and unfit character,

Unfortunately, you can only whine and cry. He remains the President, Commander in Chief. Like him or hate him, that will not change until there is another election.

Its a political prelude to the 2015 presidential election between APC and PDP. Plain & simple so why the long story

Reading such lenghty epistle will only result to ingesting panadol for another persons headache! Let them scheme as much as they like but comes 2015 na me go decide whom to vote 4 so no corrupt governor or person is gonna cunningly take that from me.

I dey watch well well in 3D

I remembered wen i was in school, my frnd contested and lost. We were shouting, 'it was rigged', but no evidence.
We started coming up with stories and all dt.
I dnt time to read ur article. Until d acclaimed video evidence is posted, rotimi amaechi lost. Period!

[quote author=Alxmyr][/quote]
How Gbawe gradually metamorphosed into a political hypocrite is what beats my imagination the same Gbawe will condemn, berates, lash out at Jonathan for his policies but will keep mute when the same mistake he is condemning Jonathan on is exhibited by Fashola, Aregbesola etc!

Tolexander: Gbawe hold on!
Let me secure this space. Wanna watch the 2nd half of the champion's league.
Will come back later to comment.

Bayern winners at last !!!!!! Classy winner from Robben !!!!

berem: But seriously, why is the chairmanship of the Governors forum taken so serious? Why is it so important?

The governors forum has little or no benefits to the masses but to the governors and the president it is important politically because it is a power base that is made up of people who are at the helms of affairs in their respective states and who can influence their citizens to move towards their desired political direction. If you can gain the control of and endorsement by this group you will have men and resources that will work for you towards the actualization of your 2015 ambition.

Inik:
The governors forum has little or no benefits to the masses but to the governors and the president it is important politically because it is a power base that is made up of people who are at the helms of affairs in their respective states and who can influence their citizens to move towards their desired political direction. If you can gain the control of and endorsement by this group you will have men and resources that will work for you towards the actualization of your 2015 ambition.

Good summation.