NGF Election Fallout: PDP Targets Aliyu, Other ‘Rebellious’ Governors

The suspension of Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday is just one step against alleged ‘rebellious governors’. A plot to remove Niger State governor Babangida Aliyu as the chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum would follow if he failed to endorse Plateau State governor Jonah Jang’s chairmanship of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), a presidency source said.

leadership had exclusively reported yesterday about the plot of the presidency and the PDP to sanction Amaechi if he failed to recognise the chairmanship of Jang but insisted on being the chairman. This time round, the source said, the next target would be the Niger State governor who is regarded as “the Amaechi of the North”.

Other alleged rebellious governors marked for similar treatment include governors Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano) and Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto).

According to the source, both the presidency and the PDP leadership have not been comfortable with the perceived anti-party activities of Aliyu of recent and the ongoing crisis within the NGF would largely determine his leadership of the Northern States Governors’ Forum and, to some extent, his continued membership of the party.

The source said, “Babangida [Aliyu] was party to the endorsement of Jang as the chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum; he was the chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum that adopted him as the consensus candidate; if he decided to go with Amaechi, that means he is unfit to be a leader; and if he decided to be working against the party’s interest, the constitution of the party is not silent on the consequence.”

Speaking further, he explained that although both the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Northern States Governors’ Forum are voluntary associations, whatever happens there has to do with the PDP and the presidency. “Both associations are voluntary but, be that as it may, we are interested in them because whatever they say against the government policies is directly against the PDP and the presidency. Amaechi and Babangida have been saying a lot of things against the party that gave them the mandate and the federal government; this is wrong. Nothing of such was recorded in the Second Republic, and the earlier they are called to order the better.”

According to the source, once Governor Aliyu comes out to pitch his tent with the Amaechi camp, “those whom he presides over have the right to decide whether he should continue to be their leader or otherwise”.

When the time comes, those that have been penciled in to do the hatchet job are the like of Bauchi State governor Isa Yuguda, Katsina State governor Ibrahim Shema and Benue State governor Gabriel Suswam who all played prominent roles in the endorsement of Jang before the election of Amaechi, he stated.

When asked why the date on the report of the consensus endorsement by 19 governors was doctored and how those that were not at the meeting reportedly voted, our source explained that those that were not at the meeting were called to express their views before the decision was made.

When contacted, the spokesman of Governor Aliyu, Danladi Ndayebo, said: “We are not aware of any move against the Chief Servant. I can authoritatively tell you that Governor Aliyu remains a loyal PDP member.”

Another source close to Aliyu also said, “When the time comes, the Chief Servant would speak but for now, I am sorry, he would not say anything. Whatever he says now could make or mar efforts he and others are making to reconcile the two warring parties in the interest of peace and unity of the country.”

But an insider at the Forum where Jang was endorsed said the meeting was called purposely to decide whether Amaechi should continue or not. But along the line, “people like Shema  and Yuguda began to say why should we restrict ourselves to whether Amaechi should continue or not when some of us are interested in the chairmanship. And during this discussion, Shema said he was stepping down and Yuguda said he too was no longer interested. It was then a motion to adopt Jang came in and they all endorsed him, but what happened at the Rivers State Lodge was another thing”.

The Jang camp, meanwhile, is considering a legal action to challenge the propriety of Amaechi seeking a second term. It claimed that the NGF constitution does not give room for the re-election of the chairman.