ABUJA- THE thirty- Six State Governors under the aegis of Nigeria Governors’s Forum, NGF yesterday asked the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo- Iweala to as a matter of urgency account for the money that were accruable to the Excess Crude Account which they put at over $ 20 billion.
Rising from a meeting in Abuja yesterday, the Governors urged the minister to explain how much of this money entered the said account in three years from June 2013 to April 2015, adding that funds in the excess crude were last disbursed in May 2103.
Reading a Communiqué at the end of the meeting which started 9pm and ended 1am, Chairman of NGF and governor of Rivers State, Governor Rotimi Amaechi announced the election of governor Abdullazeez Yari of Zamfara State as the new Chairman of the forum for a period of one year from May 2015 to May 2016 through consensus.
The Governors at the meeting which took place at the Lagos/ Osun Hall of Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, also approved the establishment of a Governors’ Forum Academy to be tagged the NGF Leadership Academy that would be responsible for capacity building of Governors and other officials holding public office and to be overseen by the secretariat of NGF.
According to the Governors, there would be an induction course for new and returning Governors June, 2015 aimed at equipping them with knowledge of global and best practices establishing and running their offices.
The Governors who congratulated the President- elect, Muhammadu Buhari on the March 28 Presidential election victory, also hailed President Goodluck Jonathan for his statesmanship in accepting the outcome of the elections.
The Communique reads, ” We are hereby reconciled and reunited as a single umbrella association of the 36 State Governors of Nigeria regardless of party or region.
“Forum Congratulates the President- elect, Muhammadu Buhari on his victory in the recent presidential election which was held on March 28, 2015 and President Goodluck Jonathan for his statesmanship in accepting the outcome of the elections.
“In light of the fact that Funds in the Excess Crude were disbursed in May 2013, there is need for the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo- Iweala to provide explanation for accruals to this account from June 2013 to April 2015 which is estimated at over $ 20 billion.”
It would be recalled that Amaechi who chaired one of the factions, was first elected Chairman of NGF in 2011 when he took over from former Kwara State governor and now Chairman, Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology, Senator Bukola Saraki.
It will be recalled that amidst political intrigues, speculations, scheming, backstabbing and character assassination, the governor of Rivers State and Chairman, Nigeria Governor’s Forum, NGF, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi was re-elected as Chairman of the Forum in May 2013.
Amaechi polled 19 votes to defeat governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State, the only governor who contested with him to score 16.
The Nigeria Governors’ Forum which was established to among others, provide a forum for discussion and exchange of ideas, help strengthen and promote Nigeria’s federal system and promote understanding among state governors.
In Attendance at yesterday’s meeting were
1. Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom
2. Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers
3. Adams Oshiomhole of Edo
4. Rauf Aregbosola of Osun
4. Muazu Babangida Aliyu of Niger
5. Ramallan Yero of Kaduna
6. Saidu Dankigari of Kebbi
7.Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta
8. Deputy governor of kano and governor- Elect, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje
9. Kashim Shettima of Borno
10. Deputy governor of Kogi, Yomi Awoniyi
11. Isa Yuguda of Bauchi
12. Deputy governor of Nasarawa State
13. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo
14. Governor- Elect of Akwa Ibom, Emmanuel Udom
15. Deputy governor of Imo State
16. Abdulfatih Ahmed of Kwara
17. Abdullazeez Yari of Zamfara
Henry Umoru,VANGUARD
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