By Ishola Balogun
Nothing has heated the polity more in the last few days than the controversial Nigeria Governors’ Forum,NGF election. 

As two governors are embroiled in a leadership tussle of the  Forum after an election of only 36 men, the spotlight has temporarily shifted from  insecurity and Boko Haram insurgency to the area of electoral intimidation along certain tendencies.

With the seeming rupture of the forum as a result of the two governors, Rotimi Amaechi of RiversState and Jonah Jang of Plateau State still at war, Nigerians expressed worry over what it portends for the country in 2015.

Barrister Bamidele Aturu

Legal luminary, Barrister Bamidele Aturu in an interview with Saturday Vanguard stated that  in all democratic settings it is sacrilegious to question the procedure of an election in which one took part after the result of the election, particularly when the procedure is not known to have violated the Constitution of the association or of any known democratic norm.

It is therefore extremely childish, and irrationally so, that some people who claim to be governors can openly identify with the irrational rejection of the result of the NGF election.

He maintained that with this development, “what we are seeing indicates that some leaders don’t believe that the votes of some people should count.

So, what happened in the NGF is a carry over of that attitude.  It means if the votes of 36 governors will not count, then what will happen to the votes of Nigerians generally?  It is actually a sign of disdain for our democracy,” he stated.

Aturu described the development as very unfortunate, saying that this should not have emanated from those who are steering the ship of democracy.  “It is unfortunate that this is coming from those that are supposed to be driving our democracy.

It is evidence of democracy for non-democrats.  There are people who don’t know what democracy is all about and there is no way they can understand except through the result. So, it is sacrilegious to question the procedure of an election in which you took part after the results have been released.”

On a possible link to  2015, the lawyer stated that it may not be about 2015 entirely, adding that some groups might want some measure of control in the polity. “It is not about 2015 but certainly one group will want to show in all available spaces that it is in control.

The attitude is undemocratic.  This is unfair, they may even annul the election like we saw in 1993.  We just pray that this does not play out.”

Describing the Forum, Aturu said: “The NGF itself is not a serious organisation.

The lawyer maintained that it was the forum that advised the Federal Government to withdraw subsidy on petrol to the detriment of the masses.

“It was the NGF that advised the Federal government to withdraw subsidy on petrol. Again, the way and manner they went about it is also not democratic. It is another avenue for waste. Nigerians must be ready to make it clear to those who are governing us that undemocratic acts will not be tolerated,” he surmised

Shedding more light on the legality of the body, Aturu maintained: “It is clear that there is no place for it in the constitution. NGF though is not constitutional but it is not an illegal body. The constitution recognises the right of people to associate and that also include governors.

For me, it is like a club.  You may have your argument for it as something bigger or lesser, but that does not mean it is illegal,” he stated.

On the suspension of Governor Amaechi by the party, he opined that the decision is for the party adding that the suspension must toe the line of the law.

“That is for the party to decide whether the suspension stays or not.  They decide what to do with each other at the party level but they must follow the constitution of the party.   They can’t just suspend somebody without following the constitution. If PDP did not follow the constitution, Governor Ameachi can go to court to challenge it.

He stated that the President should be free from all these, “the president is not a member of NGF and he should play no role.  I dont think he has anything to do.”

Aturu maintained that what people are saying about Jonathan’s involvement are mere conjectures.  If the NGF cannot put their house in order, then too bad for them.” he stated.