The Presidency insisted on Sunday that it did not recognise Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi as the chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, hence the absence of President Goodluck Jonathan at the retreat organised by the Amaechi-led faction of the Forum in Sokoto.

Jonathan was billed to deliver the keynote address at the retreat where the resource peesons included the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwwal; Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka; and Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, Matthew Kukah.

Special Adviser to Jonathan on Political Matters, Ahmed Gulak, told The PUNCH that the NGF recognised by the President was the faction led by Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang.

Gulak said the retreat at Sokoto on Saturday was not an event of the authentic NGF but a show of the “Amaechi Governors Forum.”

The governors’ forum had been split into factions since its controversial election few months ago. While a group of governors, among them the G-7 members otherwise referred to as the ‘rebel’ governors, said Amaechi was their elected chairman, others, made up of mainly Jonathan loyalists, claimed that Jang was the chairman.

Both factions have since run parallel groups of the NGF with the Presidency identifying with the Jang faction while Amaechi has been suspended by his Peoples Democratic Party.

He is a key member of the new faction of the PDP and he played host to leaders of the opposition All Progressives Congress recently.

Gulak said, “What happened in Sokoto was not a retreat for the Nigeria Governors’ Forum. It was an event for Amaechi Governors Forum.

“As far as the President is concerned, Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State is the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and not Amaechi.

“The poor attendance at the Sokoto event confirmed that it was not organised by the genuine governors’ forum.

“President Jonathan would have attended if the event was organised by the genuine and proper governors’ forum.”

The states represented at the retreat were Lagos, Oyo, Ekiti, Osun, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kano, Adamawa, Borno, Jigawa, Niger, Kwara and Nasarawa.

The event was also attended by a former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Muhammed Uwais; former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; and the National Chairman of the new faction of the PDP,  Alhaji Kawu Baraje.

www.punchng.com/news/amaechi-not-ngf-chairman-presidency-insists/

It is "fresh air" y'all should enjoy it.

I hate politics

All of U̶̲̥̅̊ D̶̲̥̅̊ε̲̣̣̣̥γ̲̣̣̥ fight on our stolen money, may the God that kill Abacha, Abiola, et al, punish U̶̲̥̅̊ all.

Naija wahala

I think the problem should be solved.

So 16 is still greater than 19 yeah?

Extremely silly, petty and childish from the Presidency.

Really, these guys do act like kindergartens sometimes.

Reminds me of the kind of tantrums thrown by a toddler who has been denied his favourite toy.

Permit me fellow nairalanders to call the president Federal republic of Nigeria(Ebele Azikwe Goodluck Jonathan) a very BIG TOUTTTTTTTTT!

And you wonder why they call him kindergarten president.... smh..

exactly why no normal nigerian respects the so-called presidency. the day we get ride of pdp with their inec, our problems will be 90% solved.

Were they expecting the president to grace their gathering? Is he their member? They should have invited Tinubu or Buhari instead.

For the President to attend the function, it will amount to an endorsement of the Amaechi chairmanship of "his" NGF. They would use it to ridicule him.

If you don't understand politics, don't comment.

The above poster must be high on weed. It's sardonic and at the same time lugubrious that 16govs are considered to be more than 19govs.

Jang led faction would only try, but WE the citizens of this country do not RECOGNIZE him.

those who read zoology cannot do the mathematics of differentiating between 16 and 19.

16 is not and can never be greater than 19. Why must the election be conducted by Amechi right inside the rivers lodge?

Nigerians are still waiting to authenticate and acknowledge the real winner of NGF election.

We are still expecting the nineteen (19) Governors we were told voted Amaechi to be man enough to attending or sending delegate to a meeting chaired by Gov. Chibuike Amaechi for Nigerians to actually see that 19>16

Until then the election was either rigged or was never the representation of the will of the Governors.

We want proof or the election was actually a setup.

Ngwakwe: Nigerians are still waiting to authenticate and acknowledge the real winner of NGF election.

We are still expecting the nineteen (19) Governors we were told voted Amaechi to be man enough to attending or sending delegate to a meeting chaired by Gov. Chibuike Amaechi for Nigerians to actually see that 19>16

Until then the election was either rigged or was never the representation of the will of the Governors.

We want proof or the election was actually a setup.

For a Deeper-Life member I think you come across as a shameless LIAR and hopeless Reprobate...

Ngwakwe: Nigerians are still waiting to authenticate and acknowledge the real winner of NGF election.

We are still expecting the nineteen (19) Governors we were told voted Amaechi to be man enough to attending or sending delegate to a meeting chaired by Gov. Chibuike Amaechi for Nigerians to actually see that 19>16

Until then the election was either rigged or was never the representation of the will of the Governors.

We want proof or the election was actually a setup.

can u listen to urself?
it was hand raising and counting. i really blame ur backwardness on lack of information.
uncle, those who support amaechi raise up ur hands and they are 1, 2, 3,4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19. do u understand now?
chai, am sure u are from bayelsa where black means green and white is called red and ur ppl understand.
the problem of nigeria is the singular act of putting a man who knows only how to take care of animals(zoologist) in charge of human beings.

Stop being ridiculous and sentimental about political issues.

Let the Governors that voted Amaechi as NGF Chairman say ayes to authenticate their vote.

Amaechi should demand a vote of confidence from NGF members to shame the President

Garri the 1st:

For a Deeper-Life member I think you come across as a shameless LIAR and hopeless Reprobate...

Can you help this community to list these nineteen Governors?

We cannot tell the authentic Chairman until the Amaechi's NGF attendance list surpasses Jang's NGF list. Until then, the election was a typical fraud.

1025:

can u listen to urself?
it was hand raising and counting. i really blame ur backwardness on lack of information.
uncle, those who support amaechi raise up ur hands and they are 1, 2, 3,4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19. do u understand now?
chai, am sure u are from bayelsa where black means green and white is called red and ur ppl understand.
the problem of nigeria is the singular act of putting a man who knows only how to take care of animals(zoologist) in charge of human beings.

Ngwakwe: Can you help this community to list these nineteen Governors?

We cannot tell the authentic Chairman until the Amaechi's NGF attendance list surpasses Jang's NGF list. Until then, the election was a typical fraud.

so pls, can u list the names of those who voted jonathan in as the president of nigeria?

Ngwakwe: Nigerians are still waiting to authenticate and acknowledge the real winner of NGF election.

We are still expecting the nineteen (19) Governors we were told voted Amaechi to be man enough to attending or sending delegate to a meeting chaired by Gov. Chibuike Amaechi for Nigerians to actually see that 19>16

Until then the election was either rigged or was never the representation of the will of the Governors.

We want proof or the election was actually a setup.

chairman ,go and sleep. if 16 is greater than 19 then your case needs deliverance.
go and watch the video yourself and stop this show of shame.

Nigerian politicians. We are yet to see proof that 19 govs are really on Amaechi's side. I read somewhere that the last retreat featured less than 19 governors. About 5 didnt attend or send representatives.
These 5 are the problem the NGF is having IMHO. They are neither here nor there. They are just playing a sneaky game. They dont want to be for anybody or against anybody.
These people should come out and tell us which side they really are on so we can lay this 19 vs 16 issue to rest once and for all.

Where is the proof that there are 19 governors standing for Chibuike Amaechi?

Tadon200:
chairman ,go and sleep. if 16 is greater than 19 then your case needs deliverance.
go and watch the video yourself and stop this show of shame.

Ngwakwe: Where is the proof that there are 19 governors standing for Chibuike Amaechi?

I always thought you were a responsible man that wants Nigeria to develop but I can smell from your recent rants that you belong to the archives.

@Ngwakwe:
R u just saying this out of ignorance or the breeze just blew away ur 6th sense? To name those dat voted for Amaechi? That is wen u will believe Amaechi is d real chairman. I wonder ur personality.

Abagworo:

I always thought you were a responsible man that wants Nigeria to develop but I can smell from your recent rants that you belong to the archives.

His comments lately is so annoying that I seem to wonder if he practices his christian faith as a deeper life member. W.F Kumuyi must be terribly ashamed of him!

Ngwakwe: Can you help this community to list these nineteen Governors?

We cannot tell the authentic Chairman until the Amaechi's NGF attendance list surpasses Jang's NGF list. Until then, the election was a typical fraud.

If an election between 35 governors with a video evidence was a fraud,what do you say about the Anambra election? You didn't condemn the massive and ridiculous fraud that happened in Anambra ,yet you open your mouth to condemn an election for 35 people which was very very credible? You suck seriously!

@Abagworo and other like minds

I don't deal on hear say and as academician, only proof and empirical evidence sways my opinions.

I don't have delight in following gossips and unverifiable piece of trash to formulate evidence that is non existing.

Can somebody help the community to list the nineteen governors that voted Chibuike Amaechi.

It's a great shame that instead of providing answer to a question. Adults resort to name calling and insult in a bid to divert attention from the issues raised.

Ngwakwe: It's a great shame that instead of providing answer to a question. Adults resort to name calling and insult in a bid to divert attention to the issues raised.

As an academician, you don't know the 19 governors who voted for Amaechi? Greater shame be unto you!

Ngwakwe: Nigerians are still waiting to authenticate and acknowledge the real winner of NGF election.

We are still expecting the nineteen (19) Governors we were told voted Amaechi to be man enough to attending or sending delegate to a meeting chaired by Gov. Chibuike Amaechi for Nigerians to actually see that 19>16

Until then the election was either rigged or was never the representation of the will of the Governors.

We want proof or the election was actually a setup.

Shameless bigot deceiving people with your deeper life tales while working as a government contractor. I advise people to always ignore this m.o.r.on.