PDP Moves Against Amaechi •forms New Gov’s Forum •Akpabio Is New Chairman

IN a move apparently targeted against chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Sunday night announced the formation of a new forum made up solely of elected governors under the party.

Governor Godswill Akpabio emerged as the chairman at meeting in the Presidential Villa presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Amaechi, who has recently faced discontent over his leadership style in the NGF, attended the meeting but left before it ended for undisclosed reason.

The National Chairman of PDP, Dr. Bamanga Tukur, presented Akpabio to State House correspondents after the meeting, saying cheerfully that Akpabio had been elected the chairman of a brand new PDP Governor’s Forum.

Addressing the correspondents, the Akwa Ibom governor said the forum was a bloc inside the NGF and was borne out of the need for PDP governors to speak with one voice.

He said however that the new forum was distinct from the NGF.

With the formation of the PDP Governors’ Forum, the influence of the NGF and its chairman is expected to reduce as the PDP governors make up the majority of NGF’s member.

The forum is thought to have been split into two following dissatisfaction by a number of the governors over the leadership style of the chairman and Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi.

In fact, it was thought the problem had prompted an attempt by some of the governors to move against Amaechi during the last meeting of the forum but Amaechi, apparently aware of the move before hand, ensured that only most of his trusted allies in the NGF were invited for the meeting.

Sources said that even though he had offered to resign during the last meeting following loss of the confidence of some of the members, most of those present especially members of opposition political parties backed by Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State, kicked against the idea and he remained in the position.

They had argued that even if the leadership of the NGF was to be changed, the idea need not come from the presidency.

Sources told the Nigerian Tribune that Amaechi, who is strongly believed to be eyeing the vice presidential slot in 2015 under a joint tickect with Governor Lamido, has lost the confidence of President Jonathan over his premature political ambition