- Amaechi Turned Himself Into A Dictator-Jang
- Governors Forum Election Had Always Been By Consensus- Imoke
- I Was Edged Out By Amaechi In 2011 Governors Forum Election- Obi
- Amaechi Should Be Blamed For The Current Crisis In The Forum- Mimiko
The Pro- Jang Governors yesterday in a press briefing gave reasons why they moved against Amaechi in the recently concluded Governor’s forum election which has two factions holding their hands on the Chairmanship of the Forum. Addressing the Press Jang gave more details why he and his colleagues moved against the Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi.
Governor Jang also added that the Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi had turned himself into what he (Jang) described as a dictator, according to Jang he said there is nowhere in the Governors Forum constitution that stipulated that the chairman could be re-elelcted as he also stated that it is only Amaechi knows where he got the part of the constitution that said a sitting chairman could be re-elected.
Jang disclosed that there has never been any time the governors gathered in order to ratify the constitution, as he added that the only time they met on the purported constitution, was when Architect Namadi Sambo, now Vice-President was serving as the governor of Kaduna State, as he also said that the said constitution forum indeed was never ratified to contain a sitting chairman re-contesting, divergent to what the Rivers governor was spreading.
In his words Jang said; “Amaechi virtually became a dictator, dictating everything. He brought in a constitution that many of us have never seen or aware of. The only time we looked into the constitution was when Namadi Sambo was still there and there was nowhere that says a sitting chairman could be re-elected. The constitution was never ratified.”
On the issue of the Video clips of the election, the Plateau State governor depicted it as morally corrupt as he said; “we have never called journalists to video our proceedings’ if it is Amaechi that planted the camera, it is morally corrupt”.
When asked why the Governors forum had not wade into the recent suspension of the River State Governor by the PDP, Jang maintained that the issue of Amaechi’s suspension was not for the Governors Forum, but solely rest on the shoulder of the PDP governors forum, even as he added that Amaechi had not reported the issue to the Forum formally.
Meanwhile, Cross River State governor, Liyel Imoke on his part added that since the inception of the governors forum in 1999, the election of the Governors forum had always been on consensus as he said the reason why consensus is used is to avoid any form of bitterness that might arise after the election; “It is a consensus between the North and South that it will be one term. For the 14 years of the existence of the NGF, there has never been an election. The reason we agreed on consensus is because it will be divisive.”
Meanwhile Olusegun Mimiko, the Ondo State Governor, said there is no governor that is proud of what transpired even as he apportioned blame on Amaechi for the recent crisis the forum is engulfed in.
He however said that the society most times sympathise with the underdog. Mimiko said he did not vote during the election, but emphasised that 18 governors endorsed Jang for the chairmanship position, noting that on Saturday after the election, the 18 members still reported when Jang called for a meeting.
According to Mimiko he said that Amaechi cannot preside over an election he was also contesting, adding that the Rivers State governor virtually took over everything, including the printing of the ballot papers and procurement of the ballot boxes, against the principles of democratic practice. Adding that if they had walked out during the election, as one of their options, Nigerians would have interpreted it differently, adding that the second option was for them to smash the ballot box.
According to Mimiko, he said we decided to stand our ground, the Nigerian Governors’ Forum is a voluntary organisation, any person can pull out anytime; “If you indicate interest to run for re-election, you must first step down. When Amaechi said he will run, we insisted that he should step down and allow somebody to be there and conduct the election. He insisted that he will not vacate the seat before the election. It is Amaechi that produced the ballot papers and ballot boxes. Any governor who is not ready to identify with his conviction is not qualified to be a governor. They should ask the person who did video recording of the event to show the full clips.”
“Let them produce any camera in the world to show if I got closer to the virus infested ballot box. I did not vote. Why do people believe in the voodoo ballot box?”
However, the Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi, said that the electiosn of the forum had always been by consensus as he added that the election of Govermor Amaechi by seven governors and six deputies was also by consensus in Kwara State in 2011.
According he said he was endorsed by the South-East governors in 2011 before Amaechi was abruptly chosen as he said that he didn’t get the position because he was not a member of the PDP.
According to Obi he said in a letter signed by the four South-East governors, Theodore Orji, Martins Elechi, Sullivan Chime and Ikedi Ohakim, with reference number SEGF/S/GOVS/ INT/1/022 and addressed to Saraki, who was the former chairman of NGF, with the heading, “nomination of Mr. Peter Obi” read thus; “We, the governors of the South-East of Nigeria wish to respectfully nominate Mr. Peter Obi, Governor of Anambra State of Nigeria as a candidate for the position of chairman, Nigerian Governors’ Forum. Our action in this regard is unanimous as a zone and is borne out of our firm conviction that he will discharge the functions of this office with credibility, dedication and due diligence. Kindly accept the assurance of our highest regards.”
Obi said he was amazed when the meeting which was thought to be a valedictory session for the outgoing Governors forum Chairman, Bukola Saraki the then Kwara State governor, Saraki, turned out to be an election event where he said Amaechi became the Governors forum Chairman as he said that he was pleaded to accept the vice chairman position of the forum.
According to Obi he said that the forum is just an association and it is never recognized by the Nigerian constitution even as he said the forum was indeed a trouble to him while he was holding office as the Vice Chairman of the forum; “If they don’t want me I will go my way. That did not stop me from the way I govern Anambra State. What is worrisome to me is that they have now dragged it to where it is worrisome.”
