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Plateau State Governor, Chief Jonah D. Jang,ย this morning started work as the new chairman of the Nigerian Governorsโย Forum (NGF) when he presided over the Forumโs meeting in Abuja, theย Nigerian capital.
Eighteen state governors attended the meeting which just ended at the Benue State Governorโs Lodge.
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Addressing the media after the meeting, Jang thanked Nigerianย Governors for the confidence reposed in him to serve them as theย Chairman of NGF and pledged to work for the interest of the Forum andย country. Both Jang and Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi are claimingย victory in yesterdayโs election of the NGF in Abuja.
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In aย communiquรฉ of this morningโs meeting signed by Governor Jang and hisย Deputy, the Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, they vowed toย unite members of the NGF, and work for the unity of the country.
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The NGF in the communiquรฉ restated โits commitment to continue being aย platform for peer review, productive and collaborative engagement withย all levels of governments.โ
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It also resolved to continue toย encourage and collaborate with President Goodluck Jonathan to restoreย peace and security in the country and to secure a befitting permanentย secretariat outside any Governorโs Lodge.
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Addressing the media, theย Deputy Chairman of the Northern Governorsโ Forum, Dr. Gabriel Suswam ofย Benue State, said in an earlier meeting of the Forum presided over byย Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State, they had unanimously adoptedย Governor Jang as the consensus Chairman and they stood by that decision.
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In the same vein, Anambra State Governor/Chairman of the South-Eastย Governorsโ Forum, Mr. Peter Obi, and Chairman of the South-Southย Governorsโ Forum and Governor of Cross River State, Senator Liyel Imoke, also announced the decision of the Governors in their zone to supportย the leadership of Chief Jang.
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Fielding questions from newsmen,ย Suswam described as fraudulent the process that purportedly producedย Governor Amaechi and said even in a village council election, anย out-going Chairman cannot preside over his own election.
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He said itย was in acceptance of the leadership of Chief Jang that 18 Governorsย turned up for the inaugural meeting despite the less than 12 hoursย notice and expressed optimism that the next meeting would bring moreย Governors to the fold.
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In attendance at the meeting were theย Governors of Plateau, Kogi, Benue, Enugu, Ebonyi, Bauchi, Abia and Ondo. Others were the Governors of Katsina, Kaduna, Delta, Anambra, Taraba,ย Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa Gombe and Kwara states.
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Source: News Express
