Also invited to the Jang faction of NGF Sunday meeting according to our source are Governors Babatunde Raji Fashola of Lagos State, Sule Lamido of Jigawa, Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, Aliyu Babangida of Niger State, Musa Kwankwaso of Kano, Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto and other state governors.
Saturday Vanguard gathered that at the meeting which will take place at the Maitama Secretariat of the NGF, the issue of local government financial autonomy that was killed by the Senate and passed by the House of Representatives will form the major agenda of the meeting, just as the governors will tomorrow take a position on the issue which has become controversial ahead of the Conference of the National Assembly.
Also to be discussed by the governors is the dwindling revenue earnings from oil following oil theft in the Niger Delta where Nigeria has lost hundreds of barrels from the activities of oil thieves.
A source told Saturday Vanguard that the Benue State governor, Gabriel Suswam who chairs the sub committee will present the report of his committee to the governors on the way forward, just as the lingering crisis between the government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU would form part of the meeting.
A statement from Jang’s NGF’s office simply said that, “The Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Gov. Jonah Jang of Plateau State has summoned an emergency meeting of members of the forum.
”The meeting will be held on Sunday, August 11, 2013 at the NGF Secretariat, 2 Nana Close, off Erie Crescent, Nile Street, Maitama, Abuja at 7.30 PM. The agenda for the meeting are: Constitution Amendment. Thanks for your continuous cooperation.”
It will be recalled that the NGF has been polarised since May during the last Chairmanship election where Governor Amaechi scored 19 votes to defeat Jang of Plateau State who polled 16 votes.”
Meanwhile, Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State has commiserated with Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State over the death of his father, Alhaji Abdulrasheed Ademola Fashola.
Jang who expressed shock and sadness over the incident in a statement yesterday, also extended his sympathy to the entire Fashola family and the people of Lagos state, noting that the passing of such a patriarch will indeed leave a huge vacuum in the lives of the Fashola family and Lagosians.
According to the statement, “The NGF chairman noted that the late Fashola can rest peacefully knowing he has blessed the nation and the people of Lagos State with a selfless servant in the person of Gov. Babatunde Fashola.
”He assured the Lagos State Governor that the members of the Forum will continue to pray that God will comfort him and his family at this time of grief.”
Also yesterday, the governor Jonah Jang-led NGF commiserated with the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, over the death of three members of the Union in a motor accident recently.
Gov. Jonah Jang who expressed shock and anguish at the news of the death, however sympathized with the NUJ and the bereaved families of the journalists, just as he encouraged them to take solace in the fact that their loved ones died in the course of carrying out their commitment to a profession they loved.
He also wished the journalists who were injured in the road accident quick recovery as they undergo treatment for injuries sustained in the accident.
Governor Jang said the governors will continue to pray that God will comfort all as they mourn this painful loss.
Also yesterday, Jonah Jang in his Sallah message called on Muslims and all Nigerians to embrace the message of peace as espoused by Prophet Mohamed during this Sallah celebration and beyond.
In a statement in Abuja by the NGF media office, Gov Jang who called on Muslims to use this period of Eid-el-Fitr to spread the message of love, peace and unity to Nigerians of other faith, said, “Nigeria needs peace and unity like never before in these trying times and it is a time for us to capitalize on the spirit of Eid-el-Fitr to extend the joy of this occasion beyond the Sallah period by being our brothers’ and sisters’ keeper regardless of ethnic or religious background.”
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