NGF Election..Nigeria,Where 16 Is Greater Than 19 (CKN Opinion)

During my primary school days, I was taught the act of greater numbers .My primary one teacher told us with great emphasis that 2 is greater than 1 and other subsequent numbers following will be greater than the previous...Meaning that in no circumstances will 99 be greater than 100.

I grew up with such a vivid mentality that any number less than a particular number remains inferior in all counts.

This could be applied in some other spheres...Which is why Nigeria with a population of over One hundred and sixty million (160 million) people is rated as the country with the largest population in the whole of Africa. China with a population of over one billion people remains the country with the largest population in the world.

No matter how you look at it, the United States of America with all its resources and strength cannot lay claim to being the country with the largest population in the world.

Let’s bring it home; to become a Local Government Chairman, Senator, House of Representatives member, governor or even President, you must score the highest vote in an election.

Why all these preambles you may ask?, I only want to lay the foundation for my topic of today and bring home the laughable drama happening at the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF).

Some weeks back, governors from thirty five of the thirty six states of the country met in Abuja (the federal capital territory) to elect a new Chairman.

The incumbent Chairman and Governor of Rivers State Chibuike Amaechi decided to re-contest the position, an action which did not go down well with the powers that be at Abuja.

The Presidency felt Chibuike Amaechi was becoming too powerful with some inordinate ambition, which may include eyeing the Vice Presidency seat come 2015.

To this end, Amaechi must be stopped at all cost to lead a forum which is not constitutionally recognized by law but has become a force to reckon with in the Nigerian polity.

Earlier on, in order to clip the wing of Amaechi and his cohorts, the ruling party (PDP) decided to form its own Governors forum.

President Goodluck Jonathan’s henchman, Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom was selected to lead the group.

In order to achieve its aim of stopping Amaechi at all cost, Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State was selected to challenge him to the exalted post.

At the end of what turned out to be a very fierce election, Governor Rotimi Amaechi supported by governors from the opposition parties and some from the PDP garnered 19 votes while Jonah Jang was only able to get 16 votes.

Instead of congratulating Rotimi Amaechi for winning the election against all odds, the losing governors swore not to recognize the election or the leadership of its former Chairman,Amaechi but went on to declare Jonah Jang as the winner of the election.

To use the words of Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole in describing the charade going on at the forum “Even Madness has level”.

It’s disheartening that a 35 member forum like the NGF cannot accept the result of a free and fair election.

The inability for the powers that be to accept the result of the NGF election portrays the leadership of the Nigeria State as leaders without honour.

It’s also an indication of what to expect in 2015.

Irrespective of how the government of the day feels about the election, it is obligatory of it to accept the people’s choice.

Never in the history of Nigeria have we seen this type of fragrant disobedience to the wish of the people, the nearest to it was the annulment of the June 12 1993 election.

The election has polarized the once united group and has put the Federal Government in bad light.

It has also exposed us to ridicule in the eyes of the international community.

To show the extent of the charade, a recently called meeting by the Presidency to discuss the revenue allocation accruing to the States was boycotted by 19 governors, only 16 attended.

This has also shown that the President for the first time is not in total control of the States.

That Governor Amaechi could hold on to 18 governors also shows a total weakening of the powers of the Commander in Chief of the Nigerian armed forces.

President Goodluck Jonathan should rise above politics and personal interest and show the stuff a true statesman and leader is made of.

The continued polarization of the Governors forum serves no good.

It is a sword that cuts both sides.

Jonah Jang and his cohorts should swallow the bitter pills and pull resources to recognize the duly elected Chairman of Governors forum.

Nowhere in the world is 16 greater than 19.

The earlier this embarrassment is sorted out, the better for our leaders.

The Presidency should stop dancing naked in the market place.

Jonah Jang should be seen as an imposter and should be so treated.

Chris Kehinde Nwandu is the Editor In Chief,CKN Nigeria.. cknnigeria@gmail.com..+2348099677755