Amaechi beckons on governors to end NGF crisis

Governor of Rivers State and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), Rotimi Amaechi, on Friday urged the governors of all the 36 states in the country to work towards resolving the crisis in the body.

Speaking while declaring open the fourth retreat of the forum, Amaechi highlighted the essence of unity, saying that keeping the forum intact is in the best interest of the nation.

“I want us to reflect on the matter of the crack in the body of the NGF, since it is our dream and aspiration to remain intact and grow together as one,” he said.

“Regardless of any disagreement, the time to bring everybody back is now. Our country and the people bear the biggest brunt of a fractured forum.”

He urged governors to imbibe and internalise democratic tenets ahead of the 2015 elections, when most of them would be vacating their offices.

“Winners must be congratulated, while losers must of necessity be commended for taking part.

“Mandates must be respected and held sacred; therein lies the true democratic spirit and the way forward.”

Amaechi said the retreat was holding at a critical moment in the country, and it provides an opportunity for the governors to deliberate on critical issues of national importance to move the country forward.

He also said it was imperative “to take stock”, because both the federal and state governments were in their last laps of administration.

The retreat was attended by the governors of Kano, Imo, Adamawa, Lagos, Sokoto, Ekiti, Ogun, Nasarawa and Edo states.

Also in attendance were former Liberian President, Prof. Emos Sawyar; former Kwara governor, Senator Bukola Saraki; former FCT Minister, Malam Nasiru El Rurai; Professor Oyewole Owolabi and Prof. Oyewale Tomori.

The NGF has been divided since March 26, 2013, when Amaechi won an election for second term in office, but the federal government chose to recognise his opponent, Jonah Jang of Plateau State, as the chairman.