The plan by the Chairman, of the PDP
Governors Forum, Mr. Godswill Akpabio, to reconcile Governor Rotimi Amaechi of
Rivers State with the leadership of the party appears doomed.
The Presidency is said not to be
favourably disposed to any such reconciliation and has thus not given Akpabio
the green light to proceed with the plan.
The position of the Presidency comes
against the backdrop of the snub given the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’
Forum (NGF) at the Wednesday “mid-term dinner for transformation team” in Abuja
when security aides to President Goodluck Jonathan physically prevented the
governor from exchanging pleasantries with the president.
Presidency sources later said the
governor got that treatment for “breaching protocol.”
Besides,the Amaechi camp and that of
the factional NGF chairman, Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State, are clinging
to their claims to the leadership of the NGF.
Sources said yesterday that neither
group is interested in any political solution to the crisis rocking the forum.
The Presidency is resolute in its
backing for Jang and its antagonism towards Amaechi.
Amaechi and his 19 loyal governors
prefer a legal solution to a backdoor approach or political solution.
One of his backers, Governor
Babatunde Fashola has gone to court to stop Jang from parading himself as NGF
chairman.
Those in the G-16, being led by
Governor Jonah Jang, are still laying claim to what they call consensus
mandate.
It was gathered that the G-19
governors backing Amaechi have decided to make the NGF election a barometer for
judging the environment for 2015 poll.
At their meeting on Wednesday, the
governors decided to hold on to Amaechi’s mandate without desecrating the
Office of the President.
It was gathered the same solidarity
was taken to the National Economic Council meeting on Thursday.
A governor, who spoke in confidence,
said: “Akpabio’s pronouncement was a mere political statement. Nobody has
approached either Amaechi or any of the governors supporting him for
reconciliation.
“You do not negotiate the conclusive
result of a free and fair election. We do not want Amaechi’s mandate to be
wished away.
“One of us has also gone to court.
Even if they want reconciliation, they should wait till the court decides on
the authentic winner of the election.
“Nigerians should just await the
evidence we will tender in court to prove that Amaechi was actually elected.”
Another source said: “With what
happened in NEC on Thursday, it was obvious that no reconciliation has started.
We are not even anticipating any reconciliation.
“The main problem is that those
seeking reconciliation are those fueling the crisis. Have they lifted the
suspension on Amaechi in the PDP? Let them start the reconciliation from this
point.
“Only some South-South traditional
rulers have tried to intervene in the crisis between President Goodluck
Jonathan and Amaechi, but they could not go far.”
It was gathered that the confidence
of the G-19 is being buoyed by the fact that most foreign missions in the
country have become interested in the NGF matter as they consider it as an
indicator for the 2015 poll.
The First Secretary, Embassy of the
Netherlands, Ms. Anique Claessen, had on Wednesday, said: “If a small group of
36 cannot agree on and respect the outcome of a democratic election, what are
the prospects for elections involving millions?”
A reliable source said: “Most of
these foreign missions are interested in how a governor with 16 votes can
emerge winner over his colleague with 19 votes.
“As a matter of fact, they have been
raising enquiries over the likelihood of a free and fair poll in 2015 with this
kind of electoral environment.
“It will be impossible for the G-19
to give up through an under-the table-negotiation. This will make a mockery of
all of us.”
Tags
Politics