Governors Reach Truce, Saraki Remains Chair

?Fashola heads committee to plan orderly transition ?Daniel: Controversy is abracadabra

What was expected to be a stormy meeting of the Nigeria Governors.Forum (NGF) last night turned out to be a peace parley as plans to unseat Governor Bukola Saraki of Kwara State as chairman of the body did not materialise.

Instead, a six-man committee headed by Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos was set up to plan an orderly transition of leadership from Saraki, who is voluntarily stepping aside because of his presidential ambition.

The committee, which has three weeks to submit its report, is made up of five other members: Governors Babangida Aliyu ( Niger ), Aliyu Wammako (Sokoto), Ibrahim Geidam (Yobe), Modu Sheriff  (Borno) and Sullivan Chime ( Enugu ).

The communiquà released by the governors at the end of the meeting last night read: “The forum formally welcomed the new governor of Ekiti State , Dr. Kayode Fayemi. Following the chairman's briefing and after exhaustive discussion around the issue of leadership, the forum resolved that there was no change in the leadership of the forum. Members resolved that for now the chairman will continue

Those members who were involved in the purported meeting that took place regretted their action and the forum accepted their apology.

The forum also agreed to set up a committee of six members headed by the Governor of Lagos State to look into issues of succession, tenure of chairman, transition arrangements etc. Other members of the committee are the governors of Niger , Sokoto, Borno and Enugu states.

Members deliberated on security challenges in the country and condoled Mr. President for the October 1 2010 bomb blasts. They also condemned in very strong term any act of terrorism and violence.

Members commended the security agencies for their swift response and reiterated a commitment to increase security surveillance in all states.

Thisday Newspaper