The presidency through Dr Gulak Ahmed has made series of denials regarding his boss non involvement in the crisis of the NGF. Unfortunately, the more Gulak denies the more the involvement of the presidency.
In reminiscence, Gov. Amaechi has taken some tough stand on some national and sensitive issues viz-a-viz fraud in the fuel subsidy payment, ceeding of oil wells to Cross River and Bayelsa states hence his travails. Gov.Amaechi voice is being heard so loudly simply because he is the chairman of the NGF and this forum is perceived as a powerful one that controls or rather dictates what is going on in the political arena of Nigeria. NGF has a way of arm-twisting the presidency to drive home their point.
The pressure was becoming unbearable for the presidency owing to the recalcitrant nature of Gov. Amaechi style of NGF leadership hence something has to be done. The presidency decided to make a move to stop Gov. Amaechi from getting the ticket for his second term bid as the NGF chairman hence the formation of PDP NGF paving way for the emergence of Gov. Akpabio has its chairman.
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All efforts of Dr Bamanga Tukur and Mr Fix it, Chief Tony Anenih to stop Amaechi”s bid became abortive. Amaechi was persecuted in different ways and this did not deter him from ruling the forum for the second time. All tactics played, all avenues explored, yet Gov. Amaechi remained persistent and adamant to lead the forum again. Gov. Amaechi insistence caused trepedation in the PDP hierarchy hence Akpabio was identified to be the man to stop Amaechi from achieving his aim.Now the stage is set for the NGF election, Gov. Akpabio claimed to have gotten the loyalty of 19 governors who signed a paper indicating their support for Gov. Jang after dropping two other governors to adopt him as their NGF chairman.
The mandate Akpabio had from the presidency is not to allow the election to hold if he knows Jang will not emerge as the chairman. Gov Akpabio believed having the 19 governors who consented to adopting Jang is enough to win the election. Gov Amaechi who has the loyalty of some PDP governors and majority of the opposition governors was confident of winning the election without much hurdles. The election was keenly contested and the outcome of the election made known to the public revealed that Gov. Amaechi had 19 governors voted for him as against 16 of that Gov. Jang.
This appeared as a disgrace to the presidency and the chairman of PDP NGF was scolded for allowing the election the election to hold when he knew he could not challenge Amaechi in the election. In order to bury their shameful heads in disgrace, the only option left was to declare Gov. Jang as thechairman of the Gov. Akpabio led governors. Jang led NGF governors stayed behind to have their meeting and later went to the Aso Villa and they were recognised by the presidency.
To avoid the creation of scene at the dinner recently organised by the President which coincide with the Gov. Amaechi led NGF meeting, no reserved seat was made available for the NGF chairman as against the usual practice. To this end, the presidency has achieved their aim of dividing the NGF and making the forum to speak with more than one voice. Political analysts have pointed out that this present crisis has capability of disablising the Nigeria political structure and is an acid test for 2015 general election.
MUIDEEN TALEAT writes from Port Harcourt. Follow me @MuideenTaleat
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