The Nigerian Governors Forum, NGF, is gearing up for another round of
fighting following utterances from Governors from the ruling All
Progressive Congress, APC, considered to be rude and condescending against
Governors of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Governors Adams Oshiomhole, Ibikunle Amosun and the NGF’s Chairman
Abdulaziz Yari have been accused of masterminding gang ups against the PDP
Governors, denying them of speaking opportunities at meetings of the
forum.
Oshiohmole is particularly accused of justifying his action saying Edo
State would have been denied the $75million World Bank loan he got if the
PDP was still in Government.
Three major issues are at the center of the crisis: Speaking opportunities
at NGF meetings and the APC Governors opposition to PDP Governors being
part of the Nigeria’s delegation to the United Nation’s General Assembly
coming up in September and what the PDP Governors termed “a selective
anti-corruption war.”
PDP governors have given indication to boycott future meetings of the
forum should the issue continues.
A close aide to one of the governors in the South East confided in our
correspondent that the crisis has to do with the utterances and
side-lining of governors of the opposition in national matters and the
apparent lopsided anti-corruption war.
The aide who asked not to be named said that during the last meeting of
the NGF in Abuja on Wednesday, Governors Adams and Oshiomole of Edo State
and Governor Amosun of Ogun State were rude to the Chairman of the PDP
Governors Forum, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, while the chairman of the NGF,
Governor Abdulaziz Yari severally ignored attempts by PDP governors to
contribute to debate.
“It is apparent that the NGF cannot work with the way things are being
handled by governors of the APC. How can Oshiomole say that if it were
during the PDP as the ruling party, Edo State would have been denied the
$76million World Bank Bond.
“I can recall that Lagos State government under former Governor Fashola
got World Bank loan, same for other opposition governors. To reduce
contribution at a meeting of equals to such matter is unfortunate.
“Besides, the APC governors opposed any of the PDP governors including our
chairman, Mimiko, from being part of the UN delegation. Is it not obvious
there is no need for the NGF?” The aide queried.
It was also learnt that at the recent National Economic Council chaired by
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the Cross River State Governor, Senator Ben
Ayade, had to raise a point of order against Governor Ibrahim Gaidam, over
the politicisation of the Council.
Our correspondent gathered that Osinbajo had to caution the governors
against partisanship at the NEC, stressing that all matters of politics
should be left at the door.
It would be recalled that the NGF was factionalised over the election of a
chairman some few years ago and only became united after the swearing-in
of the government of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Efforts to get the reaction of the Coordinator of the PDP Governors Forum,
Earl Osaro Onaiwu, was unsuccessful as he did not pick his calls and
failed to respond to text messages sent to him.