The Nigerian people wont’ have the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of real democracy if they continue to accept the shenanigans and unpatriotic actions of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF). The actions and activities of the NGF can be likened to the emergence of the Military- Industrial Complex in former United Sates President Dwight Eisenhower’s time. The late President made a clarion call to the American people, and to appraise them of the present and future of the military-industrial complex. Eisenhower warned of the dangers of "undue influence exerted by the military-industrial complex’. He cautioned that maintaining a large, permanent military establishment was new in the American experience, and suggested that an "engaged citizenry" offered the only effective defense against the "misplaced power" of the military-industrial lobby. Like the military industrial complex, the Nigeria Governors Forum has become so powerful, influential and destructive to our national existence.

The governors, under the cover of the Nigeria Governors Forum, have abdicated their executive responsibilities for political chicanery. They now spend more time in Abuja than their respective state capitals. The NGF per se is not an illegal organization, what is illegal is the way they go about their business.

Similar to the United States National Governors Association, The NGR is suppose to be a bipartisan, public policy and lobbying organization made up of states’ chief executives serving as a collection of the nation’s state governments providing a forum for nation- building. Instead, The NGF has become a powerful, partisan public and lobbying body made up of self-centered individuals.The group is so enamored with their position that they see themselves as the gate-keepers of our collective lives. When they're not philandering and violating their oat of allegiance to the Nigerian constitution, its members push for the projection of its selfish aims to the detriment of the general population.

The recent activities of this group of individuals should be seared into our collective consciousness. For example, during the prolong absence of President Umaru Yar’Adua from the country as a result of ill health; they became a mouth piece and agitators for the cabal as against our democracy. In fact, they worked assiduously to prevent the planned move of Federal Executive Council (FEC) from invoking Section 144 of the Nigerian Constitution. This section of the constitution grants the FEC the power to declare that the President is incapable of discharging the functions of his office. Basking in the euphoria of influence, and the ability to forestall the impeachment of President Yar’ Adua, the NGF dared Acting President Jonathan of his chances for the Presidency come 2011.The group has even gone far as declaring that the emergence of the next president of the country would be determined by them. The last time I checked, democracy is the government by the people for the people and of the people.

Also, the governors were offended after Jonathan appointed members of the Advisory Council without consulting them, a situation that is dangerous in our democracy. The governors are also obstructing the proposed electoral reforms being championed by Goodluck Jonathan’s administration. They boldly rejected propositions that guarantee the conclusion of election petitions before the swearing in of election winners. Sadly, the NGF is reported to be supporting the retention of Maurice Iwu Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) who is widely known to have conducted the worst election in our nation’s history.


For too long, policies that support the few have gone unchallenged. Political voices raising even minor disagreements with prevailing policies are silenced or subject to campaigns of intimidation. At some point, we have to decide as a country that we just can’t have this: We can’t allow ourselves to remain silent as the political will of our nation’s destiny is in a cross road. We must never let this group endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of this huge political machinery, so that freedom, rule of law and liberty may prosper together.