Governors’ Forum crisis: Chairman’s tenure reduced to one year

Governors’ Forum crisis: Chairman’s tenure reduced to one year

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Written by Jacob Segun Olatunji, Abuja Friday, 05 November 2010

FOLLOWING the succession crisis that engulfed the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF),  subsequent chairmen chairmen are now to spend one year in office, the Nigerian Tribune has learnt.
An impeccable source close to the forum told the Nigerian Tribune in Abuja, on Thursday, that it had been resolved that the tenure of its chairman should be limited to one year.
The source further explained that the decision became necessary to avoid “sit tight” posture of future chairmen, as well as the repeat of the recent succession crisis that erupted in the forum, which, if not well managed, could have led to another round of ethnicity crisis in the country.
The source said: “With the new development of tenure limit for the forum’s chairman, the office will become less attractive, less powerful and what have you. God loves Nigeria so much. When the succession crisis started last week, people had started reading ethnicity and politics into it to such an extent that the Northern Governors’ Forum came out at a stage that it would not support the choice of Governor Gbenga Daniel of Ogun State from the South-West.”
While the incumbent chairman, Dr Bukola Saraki, would remain in office, a six-man committee, headed by Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State,  would work out an orderly transition of leadership from Dr Saraki due to his presidential ambition.
The committee was saddled with the responsibility of succession, tenure of chairman and transition arrangements, among others.
The Fashola-led committee has three weeks within which to submit its recommendations for immediate deliberation and approval to enable Governor Saraki to have time for his presidential campaign activities.