TheNewsGuru

Tag: Northern Governors Forum

  • APC: Why the Northern Governors agreed on Tinubu-El-Rufai

    Kaduna state governor Mallam Nasir El-Rufai has explained why the Northern governors and national delegates of the All Progressives Congress, APC presidential primaries, (APC) voted for Asiwaju instead of former Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi and Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo.

    El-Rufai said that the Northern governors agreed on Tinubu because he’s the national leader and most sellable among the five Southern aspirants submitted to President Muhammadu Buhari.

    And again, President Buhari refused to pick a particular candidate out of the five and insisted he asked the governors to allow the delegates decide, El-Rufai said

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the APC presidential primary was won by the former Lagos State Governor, Tinubu, who scored 1,271 to defeat his closest challenger, Amaechi, who polled 316 while Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, came only third in the primaries, polling 235

    El-Rufai mentioned that the Northern governors unanimously agreed to stick with Tinubu for being a political heavy weight.

    He said “I can’t say all of us stuck with Bola Tinubu. Not all of us were stuck with Bola Tinubu. In many of our states, the delegates’ votes were divided. And I went to address the Kaduna delegates for the last time before the voting,

    “I don’t know how the delegates voted but the feedback I got after the voting is that most of them voted Asiwaju, some voted for Amaechi and some voted for Vice president, Osinbajo.

    “But overall you can see that overwhelming, Asiwaju Tinubu won. I cannot say all the governors did that. We the Northwest governors met and we decided that our best bet, is the person we can most easily sell in our region, and that is Asiwaju Tinubu and this is why you see the pattern of the voting that way and where the North-West goes, the North East follows.”

  • BREAKING: Northern APC govs present Tinubu, Osinbajo, Amaechi, three other names to Buhari as possible consensus

    Northern APC Governors have just forwarded the names of five southern aspirants to the President Muhammadu Buhari from which consideration should be made for a consensus candidate.

    The development is a follow-up on their resolution to zone the party’s Presidential ticket to the south.

    True to that resolution, aspirants from the South dominated the list.

    The list has the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; former Lagos State governor, Bola Tinubu; Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi; former Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi; and Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State.

    Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum and Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong, confirmed the development.

    He said those whose names were submitted had been graded by the party screening committee based on specified requirements.

    Although the Plateau State Governor also noted that the Northern Governors, being only one section of the party, the shortlist will not bar other aspirants from contesting the primaries.

    The governors had, on Monday, met with Buhari to officially inform him of their stance to zone the ticket to the south.

    The Northern Governors met the president around the same time the APC national chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, announced that President Buhari had endorsed Senate President Ahmed Lawan as the consensus candidate.

    The Presidency immediately denied the announcement, saying that Buhari, at the time, had not anointed any candidate.

    The PUNCH had reported that Buhari asked the governors to reduce the number of aspirants after consultations.

    A media aide to one of the governors confirmed that aspirants were shortlisted without giving their names.

    He, however, emphasised that no one was disqualified nor eliminated from the primary.

    “Yes, they shortlisted but never disqualified or eliminated any aspirant. What they did is similar to what the screening committee did. They just recommended aspirants that will make APC remain in power,” Lalong said.

  • Group accuses Northern Governors backing Southern presidency in 2023 of treachery

    The Northern Interests Coalition has accused Governors from the region who support power to shift to the south of treachery.

    The group therefore faulted the 10 Northern APC governors who threw their weight behind power returning to the South in 2023 after a meeting on Saturday.

    The APC Northern Governors Forum had backed the South to produce the next president of Nigeria at a meeting on Saturday.

    Chairman of the Northern Interests Coalition, Malam Umar Gazali, said in a statement that people in the North have rejected the decision of the governors for betraying them.

    ALSO READ: Banditry: Northern governors thrilled over deployment of Super Tucano fighter jets

    Gazali accused the governors of conspiring against the North for their selfish interests.

    “It has come to our notice the desperate activities of some Northern governors who, because of their selfish interests to emerge as Vice President, decided to pressure President Muhammadu Buhari to endorse a Southern presidential candidate for the APC.

    “This is a direct assault against Northern interests and these governors must be stopped fast.

    “After power has been in the South that produced president for 14 years and Vice President for 11 years which is cumulatively 25 years. It is not only unjust but also unjustifiable that our governors will be conspiring against the North to lose power after only 8 years of the Buhari presidency.

    “The only thing is that we advise the governors allegedly involved in this evil plot to desist immediately. The president must not only ignore them but refuse to be confused by these betrayers of the North.

    “The eleven Northern Governors have betrayed the North for their selfish interests. We condemn their actions in the strongest possible terms and once again we urge the president to ignore them completely.

    “This is not a mere allegation. The statement made by these eleven betrayers of Northern interests in this respect is in the public domain as released and signed by them recommending to the president that the search for his successor be limited to the South.

    “This is undemocratic and injurious to the interests of the North and must not be allowed to stand,” the group stressed.

    Governors Zulum of Borno, Masari of Katsina, Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna state, Sule Abdullahi of Nasarawa State, Babagana Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano, Solomon Lalong of Plateau, Abubakar Bello of Niger, Muhammad Inuwa of Gombe, Bello Matawalle of Zamfara, Abubakar Bagudu of Kebbi and former Governor of Sokoto, Aliyu Wamako are members of Northern Governors Forum.

  • BREAKING:Southern govs laud northern counterparts for conceding presidency to region

    Nigeria’s southern Governors Forum has applauded the decision of their counterparts in Northern Nigeria for conceding the nation’s presidency to the south.

    A Press Statement signed by Southern Governors Forum, Rotimi Akeredolu carried the appreciation.

    In the document, Southern Governors said they received the news of the resolution of the 11 Governors from the Northern Region, conceding the presidency with utmost joy.

    ALSO READ: We are ready for APC Presidential Primary – Akeredolu

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Northern Governor had earlier come up with a position on Saturday in which they strongly recommended to President Muhammad Buhari that the search for his successor as the APC Presidential Candidate be limited to the Southern states.

    “We appeal to all aspirants from the Northern states to withdraw in the national interest and allow only the aspirants from the south to proceed to the primaries.

    “We are delighted by the decision of our esteem colleague His Excellency Gov Abubakar Badru to contribute to this patriotic quest by withdrawing his presidential aspiration,” read part of the statement from Northern Governors.

    ALSO READ:2023: PDP Southern governors insist on zoning party’s presidential ticket to South

    The Southern Governors on the other hand noted that they did not expect anything short of this heart-warming decision from their colleagues, who they described as great patriots and reliable partners in the collaborative efforts geared towards the attainment of nationhood for the country.

    The Statement further reads, “This is indeed another landmark achievement in our quest for understanding, rapprochement and continual engagements for mutual beneficence.

    “We acknowledge this courageous stance for equity and moral rectitude. We applaud the zeal and determination of our brothers to engage realistically and honestly. We salute this uncommon resolve to confront issues militating against the march towards nationhood and ultimate greatness.

    “By this gesture, we are convinced of the seriousness of our colleagues to join other patriots in ensuring that the ascendant march towards stability, progress and prosperity is not truncated by indiscretion.

    “We congratulate our brother Governor, Abubakar Badaru, for his exemplary conduct. Posterity will remember him for good. We thank the leadership of the Northern Governors’ Forum for the patriotic zest displayed at this crucial moment.

    “We look forward to conducting a hitch free Convention which will culminate in the election of a suitable candidate who will hoist the flag of the party with a sense of mission” the statement concluded.

  • Shonekan legacies will live on – Governors Forum

    Shonekan legacies will live on – Governors Forum

    The Northern Governors Forum has eulogised the former Head of the Interim National Government (ING), Chief Ernest Shonekan, saying his legacies of patriotism, patience and tolerance will continue to live on.

    They lauded the late elder statesman critical role of ensuring the stability of Nigeria during one of its difficult moments.

    The forum, in a condolence message by its Chairman and Governor of Plateau, Simon Lalong, said Shonekan was a gift to Nigeria.

    The condolence message was issued on behalf of Lalong by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Dr Makut Macham on Saturday in Jos.

    “He was an accomplished technocrat who distinguished himself in the world of business rising to the peak, before being called upon to serve the nation as the head of the ING,“ the statement noted.

    The forum described the death of the elder statesman as a huge loss to the entire country and commiserated with his family and the nation.

    The governors urged Nigerians to honour Shonekan’s memory by working together to build democracy and good governance.

    It will be recalled that Shonekan, who succumbed at the age of 85 on Jan. 11, was the Head of the ING from Aug. 26 to Nov. 17, 1993, when he was eased out in a palace led by the then Minister of Defence, the late Gen. Sani Abacha.

  • 2023: Northern governors anti-people, seeking Nigeria’s disintegration – Middle Belt Forum

    2023: Northern governors anti-people, seeking Nigeria’s disintegration – Middle Belt Forum

    The Middle Belt Forum has warned that Northern Governors are seeking the break-up of Nigeria by their resolve at their Kaduna meeting that power would not shift to the South in 2023.

    The MBF National President, Dr. Bitrus Pogu in a statement on Tuesday described the position of the governors as a threat to the unity of the country and a dangerous signal that could threaten the foundation of the country.

    He also reminded them that they were not speaking for the people of the Middle Belt who should not be classified as northerners as there was nothing like a monolithic North anymore.

    “The Governors of the North should first and foremost realise that there is nothing like a monolithic North again. Secondly they should know that the Middle Belt can never be part of such a position that is anti-people. So they should all hide their faces in shame for saying power will not go to the south in 2023.

    “They should remember that because of what happened to (MKO) Abiola, in 1999 we zoned the presidency to the South-West not just South. The country has maintained that rotation so that peace can reign in the country and no part of the country will feel alienated.

    “Therefore, in this situation, for them to insist that presidency should be retained in the North after that zone has completed its eight years tenure in 2023, is a shame.

    “It means they want Nigeria to break up. That is what they are after. They are not lovers of Nigeria. They are the people who hate Nigeria and it is obvious by the position they took yesterday.

    “But they must realise that the Middle Belt is not with them because there is no more monolithic North. Even the traditional rulers of Middle Belt who were invited to that meeting in Kaduna were not with them. They were in attendance and watched what transpired but I can assure you that their hearts were not there.

    “On the issue of VAT, we know that Governor Wike and his Lagos counterpart felt it was not proper for them to generate VAT and get so little.

    “The matter is currently at the Apex court and it is not for anyone to say anything or take a position at this moment. It is the Supreme Court that will determine the position of the constitution and the matter will be rested for good,” he said.

  • Northern Governors Forum condemns attack on Gov. Ortom

    Northern Governors Forum condemns attack on Gov. Ortom

    The Northern Governors Forum on Sunday condemned Saturday’s attack on Benue’s Gov. Samuel Ortom’ motorcade by bandits as disturbing.

    Bandits attacked Gov. Ortom’s motorcade on Saturday at Tyo-Mu community near Makurdi.

    Chairman of the forum and governor of Plateau, Simon Lalong, said the incident must be investigated thoroughly.

    Lalong said in a statement issued by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Dr Makut Macham in Jos that the attack was another attempt by criminals to cause mayhem in Benue and in the nation as a whole.

    He tasked all relevant security agencies to conduct a thorough investigation to fish out those behind the attack and their sponsors

    He commended security details attached to the governor for repelling the attack and securing Ortom and members of his entourage.

    The chairman of the forum said that all hands must be on deck to address the lingering degeneration of security in the country as it threatened its corporate existence.

    Lalong said governors in the northern part of Nigeria were in solidarity with their colleague and the entire people of Benue State.

    He assured that they would continue to engage and support security agencies in their duty of securing the region and nation.

  • Northern governors meet over security challenges, restructuring

    The Northern State Governors Forum on Thursday began a meeting in Kaduna to discuss various security challenges in the region and the issue of restructuring.

    The chairman of the Forum, Gov. Kashim Shettima of Borno, said at the opening of the meeting that as elected representatives of the people, the governors must dispassionately address the crisis bedevilling the region.

    He said that it would be of great disservice to the people, if the crisis were politicised or given religious or tribal colorations.

    “As elected leaders, it is our primary responsibility to take a hard and critical look at these conflicts and come up with implementable ways and means of addressing them squarely.

    “It is also critically important, as a long term measure, devise viable strategies to forestall all forms of security challenges that may likely erupt in the future.

    “However, I need to emphasise that whatever resolutions we may arrive at, should be without prejudice to the various commendable and comprehensive measures being put in place by the Federal Government in addressing the security challenges; especially the recent abduction of the Dapchi School Girls.

    “We appreciate and commend the efforts being made by President Muhammadu Buhari in the Dapchi crisis by ensuring the deployment of all necessary security personnel and equipment towards the rescue of the abducted girls.”

    He added that, “there is need to pay particular attention to the root causes of such conflicts and their seemingly intractable nature with an open mind and from an unbiased perspective, in order to arrive at comprehensive means of addressing them.

    “We should, in the process, also avoid imputing political, ethnic or religious colorations to the conflicts.’’

    The NGF chairman disclosed that the meeting would also receive the report of its committee on the restructuring of the country headed by Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State.

    “We may recall that the concept of restructuring, at the initial stage, had taken various dimensions which included resource control, regionalism and geo-political divisions among others.

    “So it was imperative that the North as a region like other regions of the Federation should have a common position on the issue; hence the establishment of the committee,” he said.

     

    NAN