SOME Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors, on Wednesday, publicly disagreed with the position of the party leadership and President Goodluck Jonathan on the choice of the chairmanship of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF).
While the party leadership and the President are backing Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State, the governors attended
a meeting called by Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State.
During the May 24 NGF election, Amaechi defeated Jang with 19 votes to 16.
The Wednesday meeting was the first called by Amaechi after his re-election.
Leading the ‘rebellious’ PDP governors at the meeting are Governors Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (Kano), Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto) and Murtala Nyako (Adamawa).
Governors of Nasarawa, Lagos, Ogun, Edo, Zamfara, Rivers, Ekiti, and Imo states also attended the meeting held at the Rivers State Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro, Abuja.
Deputy governors of Osun and Borno states sent their deputies.
Pro-Amaechi governors, who could not attend the meeting, due to pressing state matters, are those of Yobe, Kebbi, Oyo and Kwara.
The meeting was brief, due to the dinner organised by Jonathan for governors at the Presidential Villa and fixed for 8 pm, the same time the governors met.
Because of the dinner with the President, the meeting was suspended at 8.12 pm and they all left.
When they came out, Amaechi refused to speak to reporters. He went to his black Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) to drive to the meeting with the President. Kwankwaso sat with him in front while Governors Adams Oshiomhole (Edo) and Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti) sat at the back.
When pressed to talk while leaving for the dinner, Fayemi told newsmen: “If we finish the dinner on time, we’ll come back to resume our meeting but if not, we’ll stay with the President”.
Other governors followed Amaechi in their vehicles.
