Jang, 13 other northerngovernors shun meeting in Kaduna

The crisis rocking the Nigeria Governors
Forum, NGF, may have split the governors
of the 19 northern states as only five of
them attended Thursdays meeting of the
Northern State Governors Forum in Kaduna.
The governors that attended the meeting
are the chairman of the northern
governors’ forum, Babangida Aliyu of
Niger; Sule Lamido of Jigawa; Ibrahim
Dankwanbo of Gombe; Tanko Almakura of
Nasarawa; and the host governor, Mukhtar
Yero of Kaduna State. The others were
represented by their deputies.

PREMIUM TIMES learnt that the governors
did not discuss the controversy that
returned Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State as
chairman of the NGF, and Jonah Jang of
Plateau State as a factional chairman.
The northern governors in support of Mr.
Jang are believed to have shelved the
meeting in protest against what they
considered a betrayal during the NGF
meeting.
Hours before last month’s meeting and
chairmanship election of the NGF, the
northern governors had met and endorsed
Mr. Jang as their candidate for chairman.
The results of the election, in which Mr.
Jang lost to Mr. Amaechi by 16 votes to
19, however showed that some of the
northern governors did not vote for the
Plateau Governor.
Since the voting was by secret ballot, no
one can say for certain how the governors
voted although three of the northern
governors, who are not members of the
Peoples Democratic Party, reportedly voted
for Mr. Amaechi.
Niger governor admits problems
The Chairman of the northern governors’
forum, Babangida Aliyu, admitted that
there were problems among the governors.
“I know there was election (NGF) that
someone won. We are having problems and we
will solve it,” Mr. Aliyu said while
responding to questions from newsmen.
The traditional press briefing prior to
the meeting proper was unusually shelved.
Mr. Aliyu simply asked journalists to
leave the venue of the meeting so that the
northern governors could meet.
The meeting started around 11:00 a.m. and
ended around 1:30 p.m.
A communiqué signed by the chairman at the
end of the meeting expressed concern over
the economic problems facing the nation
and the north in particular and resolved
to have an economic plan that would
emanate from the states, zones and the
region to form a basis for economic
development.
The Forum also asked northern states to
study the recommendations in the Draft
White Paper of the Committee on
Reconciliation, Healing and Security and
promptly implement them as appropriate in
the interest of peaceful co-existence and
development of the country.
On the Petroleum Industry Bill, the
meeting noted that member states had
already articulated and forwarded their
various positions on the bill to the
National Assembly. The forum therefore
resolved to continue to engage members of
the National Assembly for the speedy
passage of the bill in the overall
interest of all.