Northern governors, who are in support of the election of a new chairman for the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, NGF, have reportedly thrown their weight behind the candidature of Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State, Vanguard, has learnt.

Vanguard investigation reveals that eight out of the 10 pro-Jonathan northern governors, who are opposed to the re-election of the current chairman of the forum, have kicked against the choice of Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina, whose name was earlier mentioned as the consensus candidate of the group.

A northern governor, who is deeply involved in the campaign to elect a new leader for the NGF, told Vanguard that the northern governor preferred the Bauchi State Governor to Shema because of Yuguda’s sense of independence and ability to deliver on the mandate given to the group, but did not say what the mandate was.

“It is true that we have accepted Mallam Isa Yuguda as a compromise candidate since two of our colleagues from Sokoto and Katsina did not enjoy our support. We believe that Mallam Yuguda has what it takes to deliver on our mandate,” the governor, who pleaded anonymity, said.

“He added: “Mallam Yuguda did not put up himself for the post but eight of us decided that we should encourage him to contest as our candidate for the NGF post.

“We chose him as a stabilising force in the north so that we can achieve our target”.
Asked if he was sure the pro-president governors could muster enough support to win the election, whose date is yet to be set, the governor explained that they were united in their resolve to vote a new leader for the NGF.

The governor said the pro-Jonathan governors were in support of the emergence of a consensus candidate before the date of the election to preserve the integrity and unity of the NGF.

“We believe that a consensus candidate will be chosen by the NGF before the date of the election so as to prevent a contentious election, which has the capacity to destroy the forum that should be used to assist the President in developing and uniting Nigeria.

“We won’t even allow election because it can further divide the body. We believe that dividing the NGF is as good as dividing Nigeria. We will not allow that to happen,” he said.

Another PDP governor from the South had lamented, weekend, that they were under pressure to elect Yuguda or Shema to take over from the current leadership of the NGF but did not specify who was mounting the pressure.

Findings yesterday revealed that although the election was slated for this month, no formal date had been fixed and notices dispatched to governors by the Secretariat of the NGF.

Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, who is the current chairman of the NGF, is reported to be set to seek re-election and has reportedly secured the support of no fewer than 18 of the 36 governors in the country.

Amaechi’s refusal to back down from the race is reported to have irked the Presidency, which does not want him re-elected for the post, which it claims the NGF chairman has been using to confront President Jonathan and the government.

However, the open confrontation between the Presidency and the governor has drawn sympathy for Amaechi. It is not clear how the NGF election will end when the date is finally fixed.

Source: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/05/ngf-poll-pro-jonathan-northern-govs-root-for-yuguda/

If the NGF needs action why cant they try Babangida Aliyu he is more robust,or is it because he is not in the same page with GEJ, Yuguda is weak and slow, hoping his critics will not use this upportunity to cause havoc in Bauchi with a view of tarnishing his image leading to another STATE IN EMERGENCY,Bauchi people are living in peace except for the civil servants who knows the Gov.like the back of there hands.