Amaechi to Jang: Stop impersonating

[PeoplesDaily]

By Lawrence Olaoye

Rivers state governor and factional Chairman of the Nigeria Governors' Forum (NGF), Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, yesterday warned his Plateau state counterpart, Da Jonah Jang to stop parading himself as the Chairman of the body, insisting that he remained the authentic leader of the NGF.

Amaechi, in a statement he personally signed and made available to newsmen yesterday, maintained that the Lagos state governor, Raji Fashola, had already instituted a suit in the court restraining Jang from parading himself as the Chairman of the NGF.

According to him, the meeting slated to hold today is the one between the 36 state governors and President Goodluck Jonathan and that the other meeting called by the Plateau governor, in his capacity as the NGF chairman, was illegal. He therefore called on his colleagues to ignore the meeting.

The statement read: "On Saturday June 15 and Sunday June 16, reports in the media credited to my brother governor, Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State announced that he has called for a Nigeria Governors' Forum meeting. Ordinarily I would have ignored these reports as I do not imagine that as governors who hold our people's mandate through the democratic process of free and fair elections, we would do anything to impugn our integrity. "However as chairman of the Nigeria Governor's Forum, elected by my colleagues to safeguard their integrity and that of the forum it has become imperative for me to request my brother and Governor Jang to remain within the confines of decorum and cease to impersonate me and to stop parading himself as NGF chairman. There is only one chairman of the forum, duly elected by a vote tally of 19: 16 on Friday, May 24, 2013.

"For the avoidance of doubt, I as chairman of the NGF have not called for any Governors' Forum meeting for Monday, June 17, 2013. The only meeting scheduled for Monday June 17, is a meeting of all Governors with His Excellency, President Goodluck Jonathan scheduled to hold at 9pm at Aso Rock Villa. All governors should please ensure attendance at this meeting with Mr. President.

"I wish to reassure my brother governors that this storm shall pass and we all will be reunited as one family committed to our nation's unity and supporting Mr. President in his vision for a Nigeria that safeguards the rights of all its citizens to good governance and democratic norms.

"Governor Jang is my brother and friend and I harbor no ill feelings against him, but it is important that he stops this impersonation, as it could threaten all the good work we all have done together.

May I remind Governor Jang that there is a legal action that has been instituted against him by Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State from parading himself as the chairman of NGF. As leaders elected by our people, Nigerians are closely watching us. We must comport our selves according the dictates and principles of democratic and lawful practices and norms."

Following the factionalization of the NGF after its election with Jang and Amaechi laying claims to victory, the Plateau state governor who got 16 votes against Amaechi's 19 has consistently maintained that he remained the authentic leader of the NGF.

He based his victory on the fact that he was adopted as the consensus candidate of both the Northern State Governors' Forum (NSGF) and the Peoples Democratic Party Governors's Forum (PDPGF). The Jang faction however is obviously enjoying the support of the PDP leadership and that of the Presidency.

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