Amaechi, Akpabio camps intensify lobby for NGF seat

Photo credits: PUNCH

by John Alechenu

AHEAD of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum’s next meeting, lobbying for the chairmanship of the body has heightened, The PUNCH gathered on Monday.

The different camps interested in who heads the 36-member forum, our correspondent learnt, were not leaving anything to chance.

A source in the anti-Governor Rotimi Amaechi camp confided in our correspondent that the declaration of emergency rule in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states had altered the game plan.

The source said, “The state of emergency declared by the President has altered the calculations among avowed Amaechi’s supporters.

“They now know that opposing the President on this one is a risky business.

“When he said he would contest, we knew that he did not realise that his options were narrowing and his support base was being depleted.”

However, a source in the pro-Amaechi camp said the governor had not lost hope.

He said, “We are aware that the other camp is playing a mind game.

“They have been using subtle threats as well as promises to try to sway governors who they know are championing Ameachi’s cause.

“If you listen carefully to the address of Chief Tony Anenih in Asaba, you will agree with me that they want Amaechi out by all means. Our confidence is in the fact that Amaechi’s work as NGF Chairman speaks for itself.

“This fight is not personal, he is fighting for the independence of the forum from federal control so that governors can choose to be independent or continue to subject themselves to the whims of an individual.”

Governors Babaginda Aliyu (Niger State); Sule Lamido (Jigawa); and Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), among others are said to be championing Amaechi cause, while Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom); Gabriel Suswam (Benue); and Ibrahim Shema (Katsina), are reportedly rooting for another leader for the forum.

The alleged rift between Amaechi and President Goodluck Jonathan over 2015 election is also said to have caused the creation of the Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum chaired by Akpabio.

Culled from PUNCH