Despite all the threats and accusations, the Jang faction of the Nigerian Governors Forum went ahead with its proposed meeting with only 6 governors in attendance, at the end of the meeting, there emerged indications that these faction of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum is already in search of reconciliation.
Godwill Akpabio said “We need to settle down and settle our differences. It is not portraying us in good light before Nigerians and the international community. We need to put a stop to the factionalisation of the forum,” one of the governors in the faction who attended the NGF meeting called by Jang, told our correspondent after the meeting in Abuja on Sunday.
While addressing journalists, Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio said that reconciliation was overdue. He said all the governors should be seen to be working together under one umbrella.
He added that “We are going to reconcile. We need to work together as a team. We, all the governors, are going to reconcile and come together under one umbrella.
“We believe that all governors should come together so that we can positively impact on Nigerians.”
Although, he refused to answer questions as to whether Jang would step down for the Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi as the NGF chair, the Akwa Ibom State governor however added that the governors were desirous to embark on peer review.
The Jang faction member who spoke with our correspondent on condition of anonymity said the faction members were ready for peace in the forum because its this factionalisation might injure the 2015 ambition of President Goodluck Jonathan.
It is believed that this faction would meet with ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo and Jonathan to discuss how to reunite the governors.
The governor strongly believed that the opposition had been exploiting the cracks in the NGF and those cracks needed to be sealed to prevent further damage.
“If we don’t settle our scores now it may not help the cause of the President. The opposition are already exploiting the fight among the governors to gain some grounds; we need to resolve our differences fast. We will meet with Obasabjo and thereafter meet with Mr. President to let him know that he will be the ultimate loser if the factionalisation in the NGF continues,” he said.
At the meeting which held at the faction’s headquarters located at the Maitama District of Abuja were Governors Martin Elechi ( Ebonyi); Theodore Orji (Abia); Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa); Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo); Ibrahim Shema (Katsina); and Acting Governor of Taraba, Garuba Umar.
Also in attendance were the deputy governors of Gombe, Kaduna, Anambra, Cross River and Kogi states. They all represented their governors.
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