How Daniel was ‘elected’ after night visit to Villa Oshiomhole, Shekarau: Saraki remains chair

The Nigerian Governors’ Forum – an association of the 36 governors - has slipped into a crisis, following the purported change of its leadership at the weekend.

Ogun State Governor Gbenga Daniel was announced as chairman, replacing Kwara State Governor Bukola Saraki, who had been at the helm since 2007.

Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam said the decision was taken after a meeting of the association.

But the NGF secretariat and Governors Ibrahim Shekarau (Kano) and Adams Oshiomhole (Edo) have dissociated themselves from the Ogun State Governor’s purported election.

Saraki, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirant, said Daniel’s election could not stand because the process was ultra vires. Only 11 governors attended the meeting where Daniel was "elected", Saraki said. He has convened an emergency meeting of the forum for Wednesday to elect his successor.

Saraki gave a verbal notice of his intention to step down as the chairman of the Forum about a month ago.

It was gathered that forces in the Presidency, including President Goodluck Jonathan, and some governors loyal to him, had been uncomfortable that Saraki was still calling the shots at the forum.

Saraki’s chairmanship of the forum, it was believed, conferred undue advantage on him in the countdown to the presidential primaries of the PDP.

Saraki is believed to be enjoying the loyalty of the G-84 Caucus, a forum of state chairmen and secretaries of the PDP.

The governor is also said to be wielding tremendous influence among his colleagues.

Saraki’s ouster was allegedly hatched last Friday night in Abuja, shortly before the presidential fund raising dinner at the International Conference Centre.

The event had hardly ended at about midnight when some PDP governors who attended headed for the Presidential Villa to visit the President.

Thereafter, the governors relocated to the Ogun State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja where Saraki was removed and Daniel enthroned.

Suswam said Daniel was chosen "due to his exemplary leadership qualities, track record and experience as a second-term governor".

He explained that the choice of Daniel became imperative since "Saraki is contesting the presidential election in 2011".

Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State said Daniel has "what it takes to move the Forum forward".

Saraki kicked. He said the "supposed election of Daniel by consensus" would not hold.

In a memo to the 36 governors, he said an emergency meeting of the NGF had been convened for Wednesday.

The memo, obtained by our correspondent reads: "The Chairman of the NGF has requested for an emergency meeting scheduled as follows: Wednesday, 3rd November, 2010. Venue: Kwara State Governor’s Lodge, Abuja.

"The agenda for the meeting include, property and land purchase; Ratification of rules and regulations; Presentation of strategy plan; Briefing by Chairman; Election of the NGF leadership and AOB."

A source, who spoke in confidence, said: "Saraki has asked the governors to ignore the purported election of Daniel as NGF chairman.

"His position is that 11 governors cannot choose a new chairman for 36 governors after receiving a midnight mandate from the Presidential Villa.

"Saraki believes that a new chairman must emerge through a democratic process and not by default as plotted by the Presidency. He is sticking to due process. After all, he had given a verbal notice of disengagement.

"So, the election of Daniel stands annulled. The NGF is made up of PDP, ANPP and ACN, Labour Party (LP) and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) governors and Saraki could not fathom why 11 PDP governors would defy sleep to impose Daniel on the others.

"It will amount to an insult on the opposition governors to deny them the right to choose who should lead them.

"Jonathan and his loyalists are joking, if they think they can lead the Governors Forum by the nose.

Saraki is abroad on a short trip, it was learnt. The NGF Secretariat was "baffled" by the purported election of Daniel as it was not consulted.

The Director-General of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) secretariat, Mr. Bayo Okauru, said "the secretariat is non-partisan as it services all the 36 elected governors".

He said: "The attention of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum Secretariat has been drawn to the news report announcing the election of a new Chairman for the PDP Governors’ Forum.

"This has created some confusion in the public on the distinction between the PDP Governors’ Forum and the Nigeria Governors’ Forum.

"We wish to inform the public that the NGF is a non-partisan Forum for all elected governors of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, regardless of party affiliation.

"A meeting of the NGF has been scheduled to cover, among other things, briefing by the outgoing Chairman, Dr. Bukola Saraki, and election of a new leadership.

"The outcome of the election will be duly communicated to the public once concluded."

The Abubakar Bukola Saraki 2011 (ABS 2011) campaign organisation also said it was not affected by the announcement.

According to ABS head of media, Mr. Mohammed Garba-deen, Saraki remains focused on his objective, which is to convince Nigerians that he is the best candidate to lead the nation come 2011.

"ABS 2011 is unaffected by Governor Gabriel Suswan’s announcement. It is a matter for the secretariat of the Nigerian Governors Forum."

Investigation indicated that the governors were forced to adopt Daniel against their permutations in the last few weeks.

A source said: "Since Saraki gave a verbal notice of disengagement, the governors had been split into two groups.

"Some governors suggested that a second term governor, who will leave office in 2011, should be allowed to complete the tenure of Dr. Saraki. By this arrangement, the Forum will have the opportunity in May 2011 to elect a new leader among the new set of governors to be the chairman of the forum.

"In dissenting, a few other governors said a new governor could as well lead the forum because all governors had acquired one experience or the other before coming into office."

It was gathered that on the basis of the arguments of the two groups, some governors had prevailed on Vice-President Namadi Sambo to allow Suswam to lead the Forum.

But some governors favoured Governor Danjuma Goje of Gombe State.

It could not be immediately ascertained why the Presidency did not favour Suswam or Goje.

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