Villa dinner won’t stop Governors Forum's Meeting

All is set for today’s meeting of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) which was convened by the Chairman of the Forum, Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi.

Also, the Presidency yesterday started reaching out to governors of on the motive behind the dinner planned by President Goodluck Jonathan.

The presidency said the dinner is designed to be a book launch by the President.

But the governors were still kept in the dark on the nature of the book from the President.

The pro-Amaechi governors remained adamant last night on their decision to hold the NGF meeting.

They have however told presidential emissaries that they bear no personal grudges against the President.

A governor, who spoke in confidence with our correspondent, said: “We have consulted all over; we are going ahead with the NGF meeting convened by Amaechi. All is set for the meeting.

“We have also warned our members to be careful in attending the dinner first because they might use it to tie them down from coming to the NGF session. No governor will want to walk out on the President.

“But our position is that we can attend the dinner after the NGF meeting if it won’t be too late for the presidency.”

Another governor said: “The presidency has been trying to reach out to the governors to defend the rationale behind the dinner.

“They have persuaded us to attend the presidential dinner. When I asked, they said the dinner is about a book launch by the President. We have not seen a copy of the book and no one could tell us the title.

“It is all about plot to divide the governors and stop pro-Amaechi members of the NGF from holding their meeting. We are however ready for this session.”

The Nation