By Nwaorgu Faustinus
The Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has hailed the unification of the once divided Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) by the out-going Chairman, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, describing it as a political masterstroke.
“History will record the polarisation of the NGF, which served as a counter-force to check the excesses of the outgoing Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led Federal Government under the watch of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, as one of the tragedies of the Seventh Republic. It will, however, also record the good news that Governor Amaechi in his political sagacity was able to repair the damage done to this very important pressure group before graciously bowing out of office upon the successful completion of his eight years as governor,” Rivers APC said in a statement issued on Friday in the State capital, Port Harcourt.
The statement signed by the party’s State Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, described the feat as the best possible way by Amaechi, who is also the Rivers State Governor, to mark his coming of age.
“This is no doubt one of the best 50th birthday gifts for Governor Amaechi, as he prepares to celebrate the hitting of the golden age. It also further consolidates on his rising profile as a great political force who played a pivotal role in our great party’s dethronement of PDP, which prided itself as the largest political party in Africa and boasted that it would rule Nigeria for 60 years,” Rivers APC said.
The party congratulated the patriotic PDP Governors who actively supported the unification efforts, namely, Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom, Isa Yuguda of Bauchi, Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, Babangida Aliyu of Niger, Ramalan Yero of Kaduna, Usman Dakingari of Kebbi, and Gabriel Suswam of Benue. “History will be kind to these governors for teaming up with their brother Governors in our great party to salvage the NGF,” Rivers APC said.
The party advised the Governors and the fresh set of Governors to be sworn-in on May 29 to jealously guard their new-found unity under the new leadership of Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zmafara State. “Never again should the Governors allow outsiders, no matter how powerful, to divide them. Never again should they allow the injustice and wickedness in which a man who got 16 votes was declared a winner over one that got 19 votes. We urge the Governors to put the NGF’s ugly past behind them and forge ahead to develop a more robust, virile and vibrant Forum that will work towards the greatness of our nation and emancipation of the generality of Nigerians,” Rivers APC stated.
