Already, according to competent sources within the governors’ fold, 22 governors cutting across party lines have signed up to back the Villa’s choice, thereby making the re-election of Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi a daunting task. Before now, it was believed that it would be a walkover for the Rivers helmsman who has been locked in battle with the presidency over sundry issues including his perceived antagonistic leadership style of the Forum which has not gone down well with powerful forces in the nation’s seat of power.
Some of the reasons advanced by the pro-Jonathan governors include the reported cooperation the late President Umaru Yar’Adua got from the South-South/South-East during his brief stint as Head of State.
According to one of the governors from the North-East, “When Umaru was president,the South-South was never antagonistic to him. Rather they cooperated fully with the late president. The Governors’ Forum didn’t work against him. So, why should the North not support President Jonathan? What have we to lose if we support his candidate?”
Another pro-presidency supporter from the North-West said the Governors’ Forum should not be made to wear the toga of an opposition party since majority of its members are from the same party.
“We are not a trade union or opposition party. Our duty is to provide democracy dividends for our people. We have a duty to conduct ourselves as shining examples to our people and other Nigerians. We can’t afford bickering because that will be unhealthy for our democracy and our nation, especially at this time when we face dire security challenges. We are going to elect a chairman who will unite and not polarise the body. We will not be used to pursue the personal interests or ambition of one man just because he happens to be our chairman. Like when he issued a statement that the NGF did not support the Emergency rule when we had not met nor consulted. That is not acceptable.”
But a pro-Amaechi governor declared that the embattled chairman would not be easily defeated because he is believed to be fighting for an independent body.
“We will go to the polls to slug it out and the better side would carry the day. It won’t be an easy election, but we are also confident of triumphing. It’s just 24 hours away and in politics, 24 hours is a long time. The NGF will emerge stronger whichever side wins.”
ABUJA
— THE Presidency, yesterday, disclosed that the order directing the
release from Police, DSS and military detention centres of Boko Haram
suspects detained in connection with the security challenge, would be
carried out in phases.