NGF Election Fallout: Akpabio, Jang, Two Other Govs Meet Sambo

Governor Jonah Jang

There was a new twist to the outcome of the re-election of Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi as the chairman of Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) on Friday as four of his colleagues contesting his victory visited the Vice President Muhammad Namadi Sambo at the State House, Abuja on Saturday evening.

Led by the chairman of the splinter Peoples Democratic Party-Governors Forum (PDP-GF), Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom, Jonah Jang of Plateau and Isa Yuguda of Bauchi, along with Garba Umar, the acting governor of Taraba State met Sambo in private.

The meeting came hours after the Presidency, through the President's spokesperson; Dr Reuben Abati dissociated his boss from the NGF election and its subsequent fallout.

UEFA League: Bayern Lifts Cup

Goal scorer, Arjen Robben (M) celebrating after his last grasp effort gave Bayern victory

Arjen Robben scored a dramatic late winner as Bayern Munich beat fellow German side Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League final at Wembley. The heroics of both goalkeepers kept the game goalless until Bayern broke through when Mario Mandzukic tapped in a Robben cut-back on the hour. Borussia quickly equalised with Ilkay Gundogan's penalty after Dante's clumsy foul on Marco Reus. But Robben stole in late on and tucked a shot into the bottom corner.

Amaechi’s NGF Triumph Reinforces Divide in PDP

Despite intense lobbying that had made defeat for him seem like a foregone conclusion, Rivers State Governor, Mr. Chibuike Amaechi, defeated his Plateau State counterpart, Mr. Jonah Jang, to remain the chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF).

Amaechi polled 19 votes while Jang polled 16 in the election held at the Rivers State Governor's Lodge in Abuja and presided by the director-general of the NGF, Mr. Oshisana Okauru. Only the governor of Yobe State was absent. The election was conducted via secret ballot with Okauru describing it as "transparent".

DELE MOMODU: 20 Years of Madness

Fellow Nigerians, let me start with a Yoruba proverb that states: if it takes a man 20 years to prepare for madness when is he going to develop full-blown lunacy by biting the trees? This ancient adage is very relevant to the message I have for you today. I’m reasonably convinced that we have completed our 20-year cycle of preparing for insanity and we are almost ready to explode and go stark raving mad into the streets except a miracle happens. Those who doubt this analysis and prediction should cool temper and read me through. It is pertinent to remind us of how we meandered our way into this mess since History is not one of our favourite or compulsory subjects.