Via - Dailyindependent
Former military President Ibrahim Babangida has commended the four Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors who are championing peace efforts to end the political crisis in Rivers State and the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF).
Babangida, a retired Army General, gave the commendation shortly after a closed-door meeting with another former military Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar, together with Governors Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano State, Sule Lamido of Jigawa State, their Sokoto State counterpart, Aliyu Wamakko, and host Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu of Niger State in Minna on Monday.
For initiating peace moves to end the crisis of confidence between Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, and some of the state’s House of Assembly members, the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) and the nation in general, Babangida described the four Governors as “true patriots.”
Babangida told journalists shortly after meeting with the Governors at the Presidential Lodge in Niger State capital that developments in Nigeria today call for the concern of all well meaning Nigerians.
Flanked by Abubakar, Wamakko, Kwankwaso, Lamido and Aliyu, Babangida said their decision to consult with stakeholders in the Nigerian project is “a step in the right direction.”
“I want to commend the Governors here; like some of their colleagues, I was very impressed because they see the problems of this country and they are taking the right step.
“Their decision to consult widely with some elders in order to find amicable solutions to some of the lingering problems in Nigeria, like the political impasse in Rivers State and the Nigerian Governors Forum crisis is a worthwhile idea,” he said.
At the meeting where the Adamawa State Governor, Murtala Nyako, who was in Rivers State last week with the team, was absent, Babangida told newsmen: “By consulting widely and trying to find solution to some of the leading problems, they are patriots and I am very proud of them.”
Aliyu who led the four northern Governors on a solidarity visit to Governor Rotimi Amaechi in Port Harcourt last week had earlier said they were consulting with elders and leaders across Nigeria to look at the crisis and seek ways of finding lasting solution to some of the problems.
The Governor explained that their decision to meet with prominent Nigerian elders and leaders was aimed at finding solution to the Governors Forum leadership crisis, the crisis rocking Rivers State and generally, the political situation in Nigeria.
Aliyu told the journalists: “We are consulting our elders and leaders to find solutions to Governors Forum crisis, the Rivers problems, to make sure that we all understand the truth and carry our people as we go along.”
On why Murtala Nyako who has been part of the peace team was absent, Aliyu explained that the Adamawa Governor had sent his apologies because he was on an official engagement to the Republic of Cameroun.
Security had been beefed up around the Government House, Minna, before the arrival of the visiting Governors, Babangida and Abdulsalami who came to the venue in a cream S-class Mercedes Benz car at about 12.20 p.m. for the meeting that lasted one hour, 45 minutes.
Meanwhile, the G.U. Ake-led PDP in Rivers State has urged President Goodluck Jonathan, the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) Chairman, Tony Anenih, and the National Chairman, Bamanga Tukur, to call Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike, and his factional party Chairman, Felix Obuah, to order to put an end to the lawlessness in the state chapter of the party to avoid further chaos.
This was contained in a statement by George Ukwuoma, Publicity Secretary of the Ake-led faction of the PDP.
The party warned against unguarded statements by Wike and Obuah.
It said the statements by Wike and the Obuah-led faction of the PDP in recent times were designed to heat up the polity, destroy the party, truncate democracy in the state “and must stop henceforth.”
“Such statements include his (Obuah) congratulatory message to Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State as Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) even when it was clear to the whole country and world that Governor Chibuike Amaechi won Jang with a clear 19 to 16 votes and is the authentic chairman of the NGF.
“Another instance is Obuah’s congratulatory message to Hon. Evans Bipi of the Rivers State House of Assembly who proclaimed himself Speaker of the Assembly after a coup by him and four other members to impeach the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Otelemaba Dan Amachree, failed on the day they attempted to disrupt sitting and cause mayhem at the Assembly with the help of their thugs and police accomplices,” the statement said.
It also called on the PDP national leadership to warn Obuah “against making false and malicious statements against Governor Amaechi,” insisting that “Governor Amaechi is the superior leader and remains the leader of the party in the state.”
It also condemned the actions and statements by Wike “who has carried on like an alternate governor in the state.”
Similarly, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Abdulwahed Omar, on Monday called on Jonathan to display uncommon statesmanship by intervening in the political crisis rocking Rivers State.
Omar, who made the call at the opening of the 11th NLC Rain School in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, cited the recent political crisis in the state where only five legislators in the State House of Assembly attempted to impeach the Speaker as a political game capable of derailing democracy in the country.
“We urge President Goodluck Jonathan to display uncommon statesmanship by intervening in the political crisis rocking Rivers State.
“Of importance to the working class has been the rate and extent of impunity in the country. The show of shame in Rivers State where only five legislators in the State House of Assembly attempted to impeach the Speaker, and the protracted travails of the state Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, are capable of derailing democracy in our country.
“We reiterate our call on Mr. President to demonstrate uncommon statesmanship by ensuring that the political crisis in Rivers State is checked and resolved in the interest of the people of the state and the nation,” he said.
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