Ilorin – Governor Chibuke Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, yesterday, emerged, the new Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum.
Amaechi, who emerged a consensus candidate at a valedictory meeting of the Forum in Ilorin in honour of the outgone chairman, Governor Bukola Saraki of Kwara State is expected to serve for two years.
The host and former chairman of NGF, Gov. Saraki briefed newsmen after a meeting, in Government House, Ilorin.
He explained that the emergence of the new chairman was by consensus after an extensive deliberation, stressing that all the governors supported the choice of Gov. Amaechi, so there was no election.
Saraki also noted that the forum deliberated extensively on the election of new chairman of the forum.
He added that the forum received and adopted the Governor Babatunde Fashola committee’s report on revenue allocation formula with some amendments and agreed to assign the new Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the forum to negotiate with the leadership of the National Assembly on the revenue allocation formula.
The new Chairman of the Forum, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, while addressing newsmen after his selection, described his emergence as a challenge and pledged that he will build on the legacies of the outgoing chairman.
He justified the stand of NGF on the allocation formula, saying that the states were asking for more funds from the federal account to enable them reduce poverty and ensure productive economy.
He said the Federal Government should give more funds to be able to address poverty in the country, adding that if the unemployed youths were taken care of, violence will not come up after the elections .
The new NGF chairman added that efforts would be made by the forum to build a united Nigeria, saying that “when we have a united nation, crises arising from election results would be resolved through the judiciary.”
Governor Amaechi also assured that the NGF would look into how to resolve crises and ensure that there would be no violence after every election in the country.
On the issue of the amnesty programme, Ameachi said the programme had achieved a wonderful growth in the development of peace in the area.
He called for the building of a united Nigeria so that every person will see himself as a Nigerian and not from a particular section of the country.
Some of the governors at yesterday’s meeting included those of Kwara, Niger, Cross River, Bayelsa, Rivers and Bauchi states. Others are Sokoto, Gombe, Lagos and Osun states. The deputy governors of Kaduna and Kastina states were also in attendance.
Abe hails Amaechi
The Senator-elect for Rivers South-East Senatorial District, Magnus Abe, says Governor Chibuike Amaechi’s emergence as Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum will not only strengthen the unity in the forum, but inject more proactive approach to issues of nation-building and stability.
He stated this in a congratulatory message signed by his Head Media/Publicity, Honour Sirawoo to the Governor who was yesterday elected Chairman of the forum in Ilorin, Kwara State.
The senator-elect recalled that Amaechi as Chairman of Conference of Speakers in Nigeria brought stability, unity and integrity to the body, stressing that same will be witnessed in the Governors’ forum.
Story By DEMOLA AKINYEMI
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