DRAMA THE rift between Governors Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State and Jonah David Jang of Plateau State over the Chairmanship of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) came to the fore again Thursday at the State House where the chief executives of states attended the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting. The two governors had on Wednesday night avoided open confrontation with each other at the Banquet Hall venue of the mid-term dinner and public presentation of a book entitled Champion for Women, a publication to eulogise President Goodluck Jonathan by his female cabinet members. But Thursday’s drama started with the sitting arrangement whereby both Amaechi and Jang sat close to each other in an alphabetical order in the Council Chambers, which meant that neither of the duo would be recognised as the Chair of NGF. Before the commencement of the NEC meeting, there was an apparent order reportedly from above for the sitting arrangement of the governors to be changed. By convention, the chairman of the forum sits directly opposite the Vice President, Namadi Sambo who chairs the NEC. But the protocol officers attached to the chambers arranged the seats in an alphabetical order which meant that Plateau State and Rivers State will for the first time sit together. Amaechi was the first to come into the chambers and attempted to take his usual seat, but he was informed that he would have to sit on the seat that carried ‘R’ since he is the Governor of Rivers State and it dawned on him that Jang was going to be his neighhour. One of Amaechi’s supporters, Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu of Niger State, who is also the Chairman of the Northern Nigeria Governors’ Forum, pointed to Amaechi, saying: “So, you are going to sit with Jang. This is very nice oh. Somebody is trying to be diplomatic here.” Then Amaechi replied with laughter, “We are still together. So, I am going to sit with him. The real chairman and the...” Jang walked in, shook hands and exchanged banters with all his colleagues around, including Amaechi. When he was told to sit with Amaechi, he did and Amaechi accepted his greetings, saying: “You are welcome, I am the authentic chairman.” Jang didn’t say anything and the two factional leaders sat together and both of them kept straight faces, without talking to each other for several minutes. At this stage, Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole came in and declared Amaechi “my chairman.” With Jang, Aliyu and Sokoto State Deputy Governor, Mukhtar Shagari as well as Tanko-Almakura of Nasarawa State standing around, Oshiomhole held Jang’s hand and pointed to Amaechi, saying: “That is my chairman”. They all burst into laughter. He, however, pointed to Jang’s direction and referred to him as the leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) extended faction. This also attracted prolonged laughter from everyone present in the chambers. The meeting got under way when the VP walked into the chambers around 11.15 a.m., but the council did not recognise any of the two as the NGF chair as it used to do. However, another major dramatis personae in the NGF power game, Akwa Ibom State governor, Godswill Akpabio walked in around 11.35 a.m., when the meeting was already in progress.
Posted on: Fri, 28 Jun 2013 04:51:38 +0000
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