The PDP-faction led by Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State has kicked against the meeting, saying that it was self-serving and an attempt to foist an unacceptable leadership on the body.
The administrator of the Jang-faction Osaze Onaiwu confirmed to Nigerian Tribune in Abuja on Sunday that the PDP governors would not attend the meeting.
He said that those convening the meeting were the same people that caused problems in the NGF leading to its split.
Onaiwu argued that if the PDP governors were to attend the meeting, it would be an indictment on President Goodluck Jonathan, who would then be seen as the person behind it’s crisis.
The factional NGF Administrator alleged that the All Progressive Congress (APC) governors’ motive for calling the meeting was indeed to indict Jonathan.
He added that the next set of governors must be allowed to reorganise the governors’ forum and choose their own leaders.
Onaiwu also rejected the role of the Director-General of the Amaechi-led NGF, Ashihana Okauru, saying that he has no right to write letters inviting the PDP governors to the meeting.
Onaiwu said if such letters were to be written, he would have been the one to do it or write them in conjunction with Okauru.Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State, had earlier expressed his opposition to the meeting, arguing that it would deny the in-coming governors an opportunity to partake in the selection of the leadership of the body.
However, while also speaking to the Nigerian Tribune, Okauru said the issues raised by Dickson were better discussed at the governors’ level as he was only carrying out an instruction to send out notice of the meeting.
He said: “That’s a governor-to-governor talk. I run the secretariat. Basically, I have been directed to put out there.
“I have spoken to all the parties involved and there’s a consensus about the meeting.”
On the agenda of the meeting, he said it was called to review the activities of the body and possibly choose a new leadership.
The Director-General added: “Oh, we will be reviewing activities of our time and then create some alignment moving forward and we are looking at the possibility of getting new leadership and to discuss our normal, other issues of national interest
“I have spoken to Governor Jang, I have spoken to Governor Amaechi and they are all in alignment.”
On Governor Dickson’s objection to the convening of the meeting, Okauru noted: “Why? I spoke to Governor Dickson at an event and I actually told him. He told me he will be there. He told me directly he will be there.”
“ So, I don’t know.
“I saw the release (issued by Dickson). I have read it. Those are substantive issues that the governors should address governor-to-governor. They should address it at their level.”
-Tribune
