There are fears of a possible outbreak of leadership crisis in the
South East Governors Forum as some members are said to be
pushing for Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State to step aside as
its Chairman.
Governor Obi has remained as Chairman of the forum since 2006
when he became till date, except during the period of his
impeachment when his then Deputy, Dame Virgy Etiaba, stood in
for him.
Obi who is of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) inherited
the chairmanship of the forum from his predecessor, Dr Chris
Ngige, whose administration was cut short by the election tribunal.
Although Obi was meant to complete Ngige’s tenure as chairman of
the forum and handover to another governor in 2007, the transition
could not take place because the two governors who were yet to
hold the position then, Orji Uzor Kalu (Abia) and Chimaroke
Nnamani (Enugu) had presidential ambitions.
Since the other governors at that time, Achike Udenwa (Imo) and
Sam Egwu (Ebonyi), have both held the position, the forum
resolved that since Obi was new in office then and had no ambition,
he should retain the chairman until another set of governors come.
When the new set of governors came, they allowed Obi to continue
in office, but reversed the hosting of their meetings, which was by
then rotational among the five states, and made Enugu, the
permanent host for the meetings.
Sunday Independent however gathered that of late, some
governors have been pushing for Obi whose tenure will end in a
few months time, to relinquish his position immediately like he did in
the Nigerian Governor’s Forum, where he was Vice-Chairman until
the last controversial election won by the sitting chairman,
Governor Rotimi Chibuike Amechi of Rivers State.
The contention of the “Obi should go governors” in the forum is that
if he holds the position of chairman until March 2014 when he would
leave office, then he would have spent his entire eight years career
as governor as chairman of the forum, while whoever would
succeed him may not have the privilege of holding the office for one
year before leaving office.
It was gathered that some of the members are also not particularly
happy the way Obi has been running the forum as an extension of
his private business.
On one occasion, Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha
who belongs to All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) was said to
have suggested that the meetings should become rotational, and
not some people covering hundreds of kilometres all the time, while
others travel for only 10 kilometres to attend the same meeting.
Obi was said to have over-ruled Okorocha on the matter without
hearing from the other governors.
It was gathered that since then, Okorocha resorted to sending his
Deputy anytime he receives invitation for the meeting.
Some governors were said not to be happy that under Obi, the
forum has not made any meaningful impact in the South East.
Our sources cited the Ohanaeze leadership crisis which the South
East governors have been unable to resolve in the past six months
as a typical example.
The clamour for a Nigerian President of Igbo extraction which was in
top gear before Obi assumed office as chairman of the forum, had
also lost steam under him, one of our sources said, adding that
under Obi, South East Governors Forum has become a puppet for
the Presidency.
Source: Daily Independent
