Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State, the defeated candidate in the election of chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, has declared that he never planned to head the group.
Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State, the defeated candidate in the election of chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, has declared that he never planned to head the group.
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('content1'); });
Mr. Jang, who formed a faction of the forum after suffering a defeat to Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, told reporters at his faction's secretariat on Friday that he also did not obtain the form to contest the election.
The Plateau Governor received 16 votes to Mr. Amaechi’s 19, but he has been parading himself as the chairman of the Forum. Mr. Jang has the backing of the leadership of the People's Democratic Party as well as the Presidency.
In an interaction with reporters, Mr. Jang said he was not prepared for the post, but was drafted into the race because of the refusal of two previous northern contestants, Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State and Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State, to step down for the other.
A reporter at the briefing stated that Mr. Jang’s voice was barely audible despite his use of a microphone. “I didn't plan to run for the chairmanship race but was brought in when my colleagues from the north could not step down for the other,” said the governor. He added: “That is what happened. I didnt plan for the job. Don't overdramatize the issue and please let's move the Forum forward.”
On why he had visited only the leadership of the PDP without meeting the leadership of other political parties, Mr. Jang said, “I visited [Tony] Anenih and Bamangar Tukur because they were the only ones in the FCT. Both of them were around. I couldn't meet others because they were not in town. I couldn't have travelled round the country to meet them.”
He did not say whether he planned to meet with leaders of other political parties anytime soon.
Mr. Jang also said he had held meetings with the majority of the governors. He declined to describe the responses of those he claimed to have met. He also failed to mention their names.
On the video of the election that was obtained by SaharaReporters and posted on youtube, Mr. Jang said, “We have never called any of you to video us. I think Amaechi fixed a secret and videoed us. That is immoral.”
Speaking at the same event, Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, who claims to be Mr. Jang's deputy, described the Forum as a voluntary organization and that any of the governors was free to opt out.
He did not say if he would stop attending the Forum's meetings.
Mr. Mimiko said, “We are not proud of what has happened. It is a voluntary association. Anybody can pull out without any consequences. A situation where a chairman of a forum of equals decided to contest [an] election sitting on the seat, then it is not right.”
Reminded that governors do not step down before contesting elections for second terms, neither of the governors could answer.
The two governors were also unable to say whether the Forum's constitution requires that an incumbent chairman should step down before running for another term.
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('comments'); });
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('content2'); });