Ex-Governors divided over fraternity with Yar’adua
Written by Musa Simon Reef
SUNDAY, 18 JANUARY 2009

President Umaru Yaradua
For months bookmakers have predicted that there was more than meet the eye in the relationship between President Umaru Musa Yar’adua and former governors of the last dispensation. This prediction was anchored on the hypothesis that it was the former governors, not necessarily former President Olusegun Obasanjo, that ‘installed’ Yar’adua as president in 2007. There were discordant voices, but with the events of last week, it has become apparent that the former governors may return in a full glare of the public, like a masquerade unmasked, to demand for their share of the political spoil.
The prelude to the current development can be captured in a few sentences: The 24 former governors accused of stealing public funds by former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Malam Nuhu Ribadu, are now ‘saints’ - thanks to the fact that one of their own is president. Those of them ‘mistakenly’ taken to court by the anti-graft agency over allegations of corruption are being let off the hook - thanks to the fact that one of their own is president. Some of those who were dragged before EFCC and ICPC are now ministers in the new government - thanks to the fact that one of their own is president. Some of the ex-governors who have court cases abroad are being helped out of their quagmire – thanks to the fact that one of their own is president.

It is not clear what next President Yar’adua will do to further the interest of his former colleagues, but with the formation of Former Governors’ Forum, a forum with defied political divides, it is speculated that the former governors are a breathe away from re-launching themselves into political relevance, especially in government.

The establishment of the Former Governors’ Forum, like forums for former councilors and former local government chairmen, according to a source, is hinged on the need to influence government in determining some policies affecting the polity. With the Governors’ Forum headed by Governor Bukola Saraki, political pundits are yet to see how the newly formed union for former state executives could operate without engendering conflict

Even before the visit of former governors to President Umaru Musa Yar’adua, there have been rumours that the former chief state executives were engaged in plotting for political relevance. Going by the support these former governors gave Yar’adua in his campaign for the presidency in 2007, not a few political commentators predicted crucial roles for the former helmsmen.

The visit by the former governors to the President, according to a source, was to thank Yar’adua for appointing some of their members into key positions in the government. If the visit revealed the determination of the former governors’ resolve to identify with the Yar’adua government, the outcome of the visit revealed that not all members are united for the purpose of pursuing common goals that are yet to be defined. In an open letter to the Former Governors’ forum, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, former governor of Sokoto State, disagreed with the objective of the visit to the President and stressed that what was needed, as agreed by the forum, was to pursue goals aimed at the realisation of transparent and workable electoral process devoid of irregularities and contributing to the growth of democracy and economic development.

Condemning the action of his colleagues who went to thank the President for the appointment given to some former governors, Bafarawa maintained that the purpose for such a visit runs contrary to the ideal behind the setting up of body.

The formation of the Former Governors’ Forum, according to the former governor of Nasarawa State, Alhaji Adamu Abdullahi, may not be unconnected to the need to avail President Yar’adua with the advice from former state executives who once held sway in their states. But he is quick to add that caution must be taken to avoid conflict with the Governors’ Forum.

“But what I see as an area that we should be very careful with is that fact that we should appreciate that we are not in office; and that there are people who are now governors in office. Therefore, we should and we must avoid anything that is capable of creating conflict between the current Forum of Governors and the Forum of Former Governors. These are the kind of grey areas we should be very careful with so that we don’t begin to march one another’s toes with the new set of governors. Nigeria, like any other country, cannot say because Mr. A is out of office, he cannot make his contribution. But I believe we should chart a very clear path regarding the areas that we may make whatever contribution towards the attainment of good governance in the country,” the governor explained.

To the Secretary General of the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP), Chief Willy Ezugwu, the formation of such a forum to serve as a platform for former governors is unnecessary and should not be encouraged. He carpeted Yar’adua for appointing some former governors who played various roles in impoverishing the people in their various states.

Describing the forum as a collection of former state executives who were alleged to be involved in acts of corruption, Ezugwu maintained that the recognition of such a forum was a clear indication that the present government headed by Yar’adua was engaged in glorifying corruption.

Expressing his disagreement over the recent visit of his colleagues to The Presidential Villa, Bafarawa said it was a waste of time.

According to the former governor, “I consider this indulgence cheap and a clear negation of what the forum stands for. As a forum, we have the objective of galvanising ourselves into a formidable political bloc with the aim of ensuring that the right people emerge at the top echelon of government. We may have achieved some degree of this objective with the emergence of Umaru Musa as President of the country.

“That done, we should now refocus our attention to the serious issue of governance. As a concerned group, we should be interested in how one of us is running the affairs of the country. If we must therefore talk to the President, we should draw his attention to critical areas of nation-building which are sorely lacking under the present circumstance.

“Thanking him for appointments made, whether deserving or nor, is certainly some of the things that should not engage our attention. Appointments, we must note, should be based on merit and those appointed are Nigerians. When the President makes such appointments therefore, we should not be seen to be giving the impression that he has done anybody a favour. It is a national duty which he is under obligation to carry out. It is therefore debasing and subservient for the forum to take undue interest in that.

“If we must visit the President at all, our aim should be to tell him about the state of the nation. As outsiders, we are in a better position to feel the pulse of the people. We know how hungry the people are because we interact with them.”

One clear thing about the club for former governor is its nebulous objectives. Even when such objectives are clearly defined among members, the recent visit by members had split forum and the dangers of threats against the continuation of the body are too obvious. With Bafarawa reminding his colleagues on the real objectives of the forum, it is not unexpected that some members of the union may turn the body into a self-seeking venture for political exigencies.

There is no gainsaying the fact that the formation of a body for former governors could provide a platform for relevance for yesterday’s men and women in power. But the question is: how would the Governors’ Forum views such a body and what assurances are there that the union for the former helmsmen won’t conflict with the forum for serving governors? Looking at the present political wars being waged between former governors and present governors in most of the states for the control of power, the task ahead for the Former Governors Forum may be long and herculean.

http://www.dailytrust.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2933&Itemid=87

whats the point of ex. governor meetings pls. what is wrong with this shit country for heaven sake.