Plateau State Governor, Chief Jonah D. Jang, this morning started work as the new chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) when he presided over the Forum’s meeting in Abuja, the Nigerian capital.

Eighteen state governors attended the meeting which just ended at the Benue State Governor’s Lodge.

Addressing the media after the meeting, Jang thanked Nigerian Governors for the confidence reposed in him to serve them as the Chairman of NGF and pledged to work for the interest of the Forum and country. Both Jang and Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi are claiming victory in yesterday’s election of the NGF in Abuja.

In a communiqué of this morning’s meeting signed by Governor Jang and his Deputy, the Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, they vowed to unite members of the NGF, and work for the unity of the country.

The NGF in the communiqué restated “its commitment to continue being a platform for peer review, productive and collaborative engagement with all levels of governments.”

It also resolved to continue to encourage and collaborate with President Goodluck Jonathan to restore peace and security in the country and to secure a befitting permanent secretariat outside any Governor’s Lodge.

Addressing the media, the Deputy Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum, Dr. Gabriel Suswam of Benue State, said in an earlier meeting of the Forum presided over by Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State, they had unanimously adopted Governor Jang as the consensus Chairman and they stood by that decision.

In the same vein, Anambra State Governor/Chairman of the South-East Governors’ Forum, Mr. Peter Obi, and Chairman of the South-South Governors’ Forum and Governor of Cross River State, Senator Liyel Imoke, also announced the decision of the Governors in their zone to support the leadership of Chief Jang.

Fielding questions from newsmen, Suswam described as fraudulent the process that purportedly produced Governor Amaechi and said even in a village council election, an out-going Chairman cannot preside over his own election.

He said it was in acceptance of the leadership of Chief Jang that 18 Governors turned up for the inaugural meeting despite the less than 12 hours notice and expressed optimism that the next meeting would bring more Governors to the fold.

In attendance at the meeting were the Governors of Plateau, Kogi, Benue, Enugu, Ebonyi, Bauchi, Abia and Ondo. Others were the Governors of Katsina, Kaduna, Delta, Anambra, Taraba, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa Gombe and Kwara states.

Attached is the Attendance List of the meeting.

Update news