Nigerians have expressed worry over the crisis in the Nigeria Governor’s Forum (NGF), describing it as a show of shame, threat to democracy and should be resolved now.
All had not been well with the NGF since the May 24, governors election. Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi and his Plateau State counterpart, Mr. Jonah Jang are laying claims to the Chairmanship of the forum, a development that many Nigerians are not comfortable with.
Those who spoke to our correspondents on the NGF crisis implored the governors to sink their differences for national interest.
A Port-Harcourt based journalist , Abraham Dukuma and publisher/Editor-in-Chief, The People’s Herald, held that “There is the compelling need to advise them to tread softly. To see themselves as leaders whose primary responsibility it is to provide premium quality services at the highest level to the people that elected them to power. They should rein in their inordinate ambitions for power. But, come to think of it, if they’re asking for a fairer deal in our convoluted federation where all the governors go cap-in-hand to Aso Rock to beg for what ordinarily are theirs, if their fight is against arbitrary misapplication or misadministration of our commonwealth by the government in the centre, well; it could be said that they have a good fight! After all, they are coordinate, federating units, not subordinates to the federal government. But tact, diplomacy, patriotism and deft statesmanship on both sides – will make all the difference. The sable-rattling must end. Despotism is wrong!”
From Abuja, the National CO-ordinator of South South Progressive Elements (SSPE), Mr. Joseph Ambakederemo averred that; “The President needs the support of the Governors, especially PDP Governors for his nomination in his re-election in 2015 and the earlier he mend fences with them the better for him so that what happened at the NGF will not repeat itself to embarrass himself.”
A Warri-based legal practitioner, Barrister Eric Omare stated thus; “The struggle within the NGF is not unexpected. It is all strategy to position themselves for post 2015, especially for the governors in their second term. But for the PDP governors, I am sure they would come together at the end of the day. In all, I do not see the fight by the governors as a big deal.”
Another Warri-based legal practitioner, Barrister Fred Aburu, described the war by the Nigerian governors as; “A show of dishonour.”
Barrister Kenneth Atsenuwa is a Sapele-based legal practitioner. Hear him; “The governors’ forum debacle is a sordid reminder of how inordinate ambition and selfish crave for power have eroded the ideals of most institutions. Amaechi won the forum’s election so it is laughable that Governor Jang who became governor by majority votes, has his minority NGF. Who is afraid of Governor Amaechi, and who is trying to legitimize the illegitimate Jang minority faction? Democracy is about majority rule and Governor Jang and his co-dissenters should tread the path of honour and dissolve their faction into the legitimate Governor Amaechi-led NGF.”
Barrister Oghenejabor Ikimi held that; “I don’t think that Nigerians are at war against themselves ahead of the 2015 general polls, rather it is the political gladiators and actors that are desperately at war against themselves ahead of the 2015 general elections for reasons devoid of patriotic considerations, hence my recent recommendation for the scrapping of the Governors Forum as their continuous existence would pose serious danger to our national unity and security as a Nation ahead of the 2015 general polls. I make bold to say that for us as a Nation to move forward, the electorates must elect selfless and credible persons into public offices and resist sham elections as many of the political actors in our present polity are either political prostitutes or political fraudsters whose stock in trade is to enrich themselves and their immediate family at the expense of the electorates hence the earth quaking level of official corruption, massive youth unemployment, massive public infrastructural decay, worsening level of insecurity and poverty in the polity.”
Former President of DACCIMA, Chief Moses Orogun in his comment stated that; “I think the governors will mend their fences later after all the political brouhaha.”
On his part, Mr. Victor Agbateyiniro, a former Chairmanship aspirant for Warri South Local Government said “It is a show of shame. Governors Amaechi and Jang should step down and let a new person lead. They should bury themselves in shame and apologize to Nigerians, who see them as role models.”
Mr. Emmanuel Okotie-Eboh, said that; “We should stop telling the whole world that we are ripe for democracy. The NGF crisis can be handled and resolve amicably. We are one people; and we should not let this minor issue distract us; we have many problems already as a nation and people, our governors should not add more problems than we have now.”
