My colleagues are playing political games—Daniel

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor, Kolade Larewaju& Henry Umoru
LAGOS—THE uproar against Governor Gbenga Daniel’s emergence as Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, NGF, boiled over at the meeting of the governors in Abuja last night leading to the constitution of an ad-hoc committee to articulate a succession plan for the forum.

As they entered the meeting hosted by the outgoing chairman of the forum, Governor Bukola Saraki, the governors fumed over what they said was the lawlessness used in the adoption of the Ogun governor as their chairman.

Some governors who had earlier given their preference for Daniel were backtracking while some like Governor Murtala Nyako described by Vanguard to be undecided on the issue fumed over the categorisation.

“I am a General. Why should you say I am undecided, I am against Daniel,” the Adamawa governor, a retired Admiral told Vanguard as he was about entering the meeting yesterday night.

Ill-fated adoption

Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, said at the meeting that he was opposed to Daniel because of the lawlessness that was brought to bear in his ill-fated adoption last weekend.

It was learnt that the governors were last night set to constitute a committee among themselves to study the fuss thrown up by the announcement of Governor Daniel as Chairman of the NGF and proffer solutions.

The governors were at press time locked in a meeting in Kwara Governor’s Lodge in the Asokoro area of the federal capital.

Daniel who is at the centre of the rumpus meanwhile affirmed, yesterday, that he was not desperate for the job as he accused some fellow governors of playing political games over the issue.

Vanguard sources disclosed that cool heads among the governors were working to moderate tempers among colleagues who had taken extreme positions on the issue.

At issue was the procedure in the announcement of Governor Gbenga Daniel as Chairman of the NGF. Daniel was proclaimed as the chairman by Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State last weekend after a meeting of 10 governors and two deputy governors.

His announcement immediately stoked negative reactions from some of his colleagues, notably Governors Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State and some other non PDP governors.

Vanguard learnt that a middle road was conceived by some governors in recognition of the efforts made by Governor Bukola Saraki in raising the distinction of the NGF as a strong lobby.

One of the governors told Vanguard last night: “Nobody has been able to raise the integrity of the NGF as Governor Saraki and that is the reason that some governors are now saying that he should not be disgraced out.

”So what we are going to do is to form a committee to lay out a framework for the operations of the NGF, including a succession procedure.”

The committee it was learnt would guide the affairs of the NGF for the foreseeable future before the adoption of a workable constitution.

Daniel in his opening remarks at the State Treasury Board Meeting/Budget Retreat held at Valley View, Government House in Abeokuta described all that happened concerning the Governors Forum as “political game.”

He said that he had not at any point in time asked to be chairman of the forum, arguing that, the office was not meant to be one for receiving of salary. He, however, added that if it came his way he would not reject the opportunity.

Daniel said: “I can assure you all that I’ve not, at any point in time asked to be the chairman of Governors’ Forum. It’s my colleagues playing political game.

“As you know, the chairman of Governors’ Forum is not a salaried appointment. My cup is full. I’m sorting out Ogun State matter and I’m also the Jonathan’s campaign coordinator in the South West. If it comes, I will not say no. All these political abracadabra has to do with presidential election; it has nothing to do with OGD.”