NGT CRISIS CONTINUES

NGF CRISIS: Drama as presidency seats Amaechi
beside
Jang at NEC meeting
A mild drama occurred on Thursday morning
shortly before the commencement of the National
Economic Council (NEC) meeting at the Council
Chambers of the Presidential Villa in Abuja, as
two claimants to the post of Nigeria Governors
Forum Chairman were made to sit beside
themselves.
In what is probably the first meeting attended by
both men since the governors’ forum, NGF,
election in May, the seating arrangement was
altered, which allowed Governors Rotimi Amaechi
of Rivers and Jonah Jang of Plateau to sit beside
themselves.
Mr. Amaechi defeated Mr. Jang by 19 votes to 16
to emerge chairman of the NGF in May, but the
Plateau Governor rejected the result and instead
set up a parallel faction.
Obviously following directives, presidential aides
altered the sitting arrangement at NEC meetings.
Previously, the Chairman of the Governors Forum
would sit directly opposite Vice President Namadi
Sambo, who chairs the council.
However, on Thursday, no seat was reserved for
the NGF chairman as the council apparently failed
to recognize anyone for the position. The seats
were rearranged for the governors in alphabetical
order of the name of their states. With no state
starting with the letter Q, Mr. Amaechi of River’s
seat was directly beside that of Mr. Jang of
Plateau.
The Rivers Governor went into the Chambers and
headed for his usual seat opposite Mr. Sambo
only to be informed that his seat was the one
marked with R. He then realised who his
neighbour was going to be.
The Niger State Governor, Babangida Aliyu, who
supports Mr. Amaechi, approached the latter and
kick started the small talks and jabs.
“So you are going to sit with Jang. This is very
nice oh. Somebody is trying to be diplomatic
here,” Mr. Aliyu told the Rivers Governor.
Mr. Amaechi replied saying: “We are still
together. So, I am going to sit with him. The real
chairman and the… (laughter)”
Observers watched curiously to see how Mr. Jang
and other governors would react to the sitting
arrangement.
When Mr. Jang arrived; he walked in and
exchanged pleasantries with other governors
including Mr. Amaechi. After being told he was to
sit beside his opponent, he did.
“You are welcome, I am the authentic chairman,”
Mr. Amaechi told Mr. Jang while exchanging
greetings.
The Plateau Governor did not respond and both
governors sat without saying anything to
themselves for a while before others started
arriving.
The Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, who
noticed the situation, held Mr. Jang’s hand and
pointed to Mr. Amaechi, saying “that is my
chairman.” He added that the Plateau Governor
was the leader of the other Peoples Democratic
Party extended faction of the governors’ forum;
which drew laughter from those present at the
venue.
The governors were finally accompanied to the
meeting by their respective commissioners of
finance and education.
While the mood at the event was mild, it also
showed that the rancour within Nigerian
governors was far from over. The crisis in the
NGF worsened after the elections as supporters
on both sides have thrown caution to wind, with
verbal attacks through the media.