Meanwhile, there are fears of a possible outbreak of leadership crisis in the South East Governors Forum as some members are said to be pushing for Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State to step aside as its Chairman.

Governor Obi has remained as Chairman of the forum since 2006 when he became till date, except during the period of his impeachment when his then Deputy, Dame Virgy Etiaba, stood in for him.

Obi who is of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) inherited the chairmanship of the forum from his predecessor, Dr Chris Ngige, whose administration was cut short by the election tribunal.

Although Obi was meant to complete Ngige’s tenure as chairman of the forum and handover to another governor in 2007, the transition could not take place because the two governors who were yet to hold the position then, Orji Uzor Kalu (Abia) and Chimaroke Nnamani (Enugu) had presidential ambitions.

Since the other governors at that time, Achike Udenwa (Imo) and Sam Egwu (Ebonyi), have both held the position, the forum resolved that since Obi was new in office then and had no ambition, he should retain the chairman until another set of governors come.

When the new set of governors came, they allowed Obi to continue in office, but reversed the hosting of their meetings, which was by then rotational among the five states, and made Enugu, the permanent host for the meetings.

Sunday Independent however gathered that of late, some governors have been pushing for Obi whose tenure will end in a few months time, to relinquish his position immediately like he did in the Nigerian Governor’s Forum, where he was Vice-Chairman until the last controversial election won by the sitting chairman, Governor Rotimi Chibuike Amechi of Rivers State.

The contention of the “Obi should go governors” in the forum is that if he holds the position of chairman until March 2014 when he would leave office, then he would have spent his entire eight years career as governor as chairman of the forum, while whoever would succeed him may not have the privilege of holding the office for one year before leaving office.

It was gathered that some of the members are also not particularly happy the way Obi has been running the forum as an extension of his private business.

On one occasion, Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha who belongs to All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) was said to have suggested that the meetings should become rotational, and not some people covering hundreds of kilometres all the time, while others travel for only 10 kilometres to attend the same meeting.

Obi was said to have over-ruled Okorocha on the matter without hearing from the other governors.

It was gathered that since then, Okorocha resorted to sending his Deputy anytime he receives invitation for the meeting.

Some governors were said not to be happy that under Obi, the forum has not made any meaningful impact in the South East.

Our sources cited the Ohanaeze leadership crisis which the South East governors have been unable to resolve in the past six months as a typical example.

The clamour for a Nigerian President of Igbo extraction which was in top gear before Obi assumed office as chairman of the forum, had also lost steam under him, one of our sources said, adding that under Obi, South East Governors Forum has become a puppet for the Presidency.

http://dailyindependentnig.com/2013/06/ngf-how-akpabio-bungled-peace-effort/

Clears throat
This is really getting interesting. Jonathan should hasten up with all his promises in southeast so as not to put himself in a tight corner.
Rochas has something against the presidency and he'll definitely go to any length in order to prove his relevance.