Prof:There is also the possibility of thumb-printed ballot papers in some room while arguments were going.We need forensic analysis here walahi.Where is ADRIAN FOURTY?Governors Forum egbekegbe,Na bad society,Governors Forum oturukegbeeee,Parararan..panpan......Abami Eda rest in peace o jare!Yinka.Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone.
I DID NOT VOTE DURING THE ELECTION--MIMIKO // I GO TO COURT - FASHOLAMy People:Has a mathematical mystery been solved here. as this NGF palava gets curiouser and curiouser as the days go on?Please come with me (even though I thought I was moving on before):
Gov. Uduaghan (Delta): I was the (election) agent to both candidates Amaechi and JangGov. Mimiko (Ondo): I did not vote in the election between Amaechi and Jang.Mr. Okauru (Dir-Gen of NGF): Here are 35 ballots (counting them one by one, with Uduaghan watching closely)....and the winner is Amaechi 19 Jang 16 (19 + 16 = 35)Observation: Gov. Gaidam of Yobe (nor his representative) not present during the elections, meaning a total of 35 states physically represented at the election.Jang (Plateau): I did not plan to be Chairman of NGF...but now I am, so I appoint Osaro Onaiwu as "NGF Sole Administrator" in place of OkauraFashola (Lagos): Na court I go so o...!Question Set 1: To get 35 votes (in the absence of Yobe and with the "confession" of Ondo):(a) did Delta vote twice, being "the agent to both candidates?" I always wondered who he voted for.(b) did someone vote for Ondo?(c) did someone vote by proxy for Yobe?Question Set 2: With confessed Planlessness, what the heck is Plateau doing as NGF Chairman?Question Set 3: With Lagos going to court, is there more to this NGF that we plebs don't know?C'est rigolo, c'est bizarre!Bolaji AlukoShaking his head
QUOTE
"Also speaking, vice-chairman of the forum, Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, said no one governor would say that he was proud of what happened on that day and blamed Governor Ameachi for the "shameful act."
He said he did not vote during the election; that 18 governors had earlier endorsed Governor Jang for the chairmanship position and that after the election, 18 governors attended the meeting called by Jang.
According to him, "Ameachi cannot preside over an election in which he is contesting, apart from the fact that he printed the ballot papers, provided the ballot boxes and appointed electoral officer against the principle of democratic practice."UNQUOTE
I Did Not Plan To Be Chairman Of Governors' Forum - Jang
Posted: June 1, 2013Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State, the defeated candidate in the election of chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, has declared that he never planned to head the group.
Mr. Jang, who formed a faction of the forum after suffering a defeat to Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, told reporters at his faction's secretariat on Friday that he also did not obtain the form to contest the election.
The Plateau Governor received 16 votes to Mr. Amaechi's 19, but he has been parading himself as the chairman of the Forum. Mr. Jang has the backing of the leadership of the People's Democratic Party as well as the Presidency.
In an interaction with reporters, Mr. Jang said he was not prepared for the post, but was drafted into the race because of the refusal of two previous northern contestants, Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State and Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State, to step down for the other.
A reporter at the briefing stated that Mr. Jang's voice was barely audible despite his use of a microphone. "I didn't plan to run for the chairmanship race but was brought in when my colleagues from the north could not step down for the other," said the governor. He added: "That is what happened. I didnt plan for the job. Don't overdramatize the issue and please let's move the Forum forward."
On why he had visited only the leadership of the PDP without meeting the leadership of other political parties, Mr. Jang said, "I visited [Tony] Anenih and Bamangar Tukur because they were the only ones in the FCT. Both of them were around. I couldn't meet others because they were not in town. I couldn't have travelled round the country to meet them."
He did not say whether he planned to meet with leaders of other political parties anytime soon.
Mr. Jang also said he had held meetings with the majority of the governors. He declined to describe the responses of those he claimed to have met. He also failed to mention their names.
On the video of the election that was obtained by SaharaReporters and posted on youtube, Mr. Jang said, "We have never called any of you to video us. I think Amaechi fixed a secret and videoed us. That is immoral."
Speaking at the same event, Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, who claims to be Mr. Jang's deputy, described the Forum as a voluntary organization and that any of the governors was free to opt out.
He did not say if he would stop attending the Forum's meetings.
Mr. Mimiko said, "We are not proud of what has happened. It is a voluntary association. Anybody can pull out without any consequences. A situation where a chairman of a forum of equals decided to contest [an] election sitting on the seat, then it is not right."
Reminded that governors do not step down before contesting elections for second terms, neither of the governors could answer.
The two governors were also unable to say whether the Forum's constitution requires that an incumbent chairman should step down before running for another term.__________________________________________________________________________________________________Governors shift battle to court
JUNE 2, 2013 BY TUNDE ODESOLA, FEMI MAKINDE, OLUSOLA FABIYI, JUDE ONWUMANAM, KAMARUDEEN OGUNDELE AND LEKE BAIYEWUThe fight for the control of the Nigeria Governors' Forum between Rivers Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, and Plateau Governor, Jonah Jang, took a different turn on Friday as pro-Ameachi governors, represented by Lagos Governor, Babatunde Fashola, went to court to stop Jang from parading himself as the chairman of the NGF.
Fashola, who filed the suit at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in his capacity as a member of the forum, asked the court to declare that Jang is not competent to be called the elected chairman of the NGF.
Apart from Jang, other defendants in the suit are the Director-General of the NGF, Asishana Okauru; the Sole Administrator purportedly appointed by Jang, Osaro Onaiwu, and the Registered Trustees of the NGF vested with the power to administer and manage the trusts of the NGF.
In the writ of summons filed by a former Lagos Attorney General, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) and former West African Bar Association President, Femi Falana (SAN), Fashola maintained that 35 governors participated in the election that returned Amaechi as the NGF chairman.
He, therefore, asked the court to stop Jang from parading himself "as the elected chairman of the NGF in any manner whatsoever and howsoever."
Fashola is also seeking a declaration that the first defendant (Jang) is not competent to relocate the secretariat of the Nigeria Governors' Forum from No. 1, Deng Xiaoping Street, Off AIT Junction, Asokoro Extension, Abuja to No. 2, Nana Close, by Ene Crescent, Off Nile Street, Maitama, Abuja or to any other place.
The plaintiff revealed that Okauru had been under pressure from Jang to handover the assets and documents of the NGF to him (Jang).
He therefore asked the court to declare that Okauru "is not competent to handover the assets and documents of the Nigeria Governors' Forum to the first defendant, his agents, privies and servants in any manner whatsoever and howsoever."
Apart from these, the Lagos State governor also asked the court to declare that the second defendant (Okauru) is not competent to use the name Nigeria Governors' Forum in respect of any other organisation which does not have the 36 governors as members and/or in any other manner inconsistent with the constitution of the governors' forum.
He is also seeking an Order of Perpetual Injunction restraining Okauru from handing over the property and documents of the Nigeria Governors' Forum to Jang, his agents, privies and servants in any manner whatsoever and howsoever.
In addition to these, Fashola asked for, "an Order of Injunction restraining the third defendant from parading himself as the Sole Administrator of the forum in any manner whatsoever and howsoever."
In the statement of claim, Fashola stated that he would rely on the NGF's registered constitution at the trial.
He averred that the election into the post of the chairman of the NGF took place at the Rivers State Lodge, Asokoro, Abuja on Friday, May 25, 2013.
"The governors of Abia, Adamawa, Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, and Zamfara states took part in the said election.
"The four candidates who submitted nomination forms for the election were the governors of Bauchi, Katsina, Plateau and Rivers states. The nomination forms will be relied upon at the trial of this suit. Before the said election, the governors of Bauchi and Katsina states withdrew from the election leaving the contest for the governors of Plateau and Rivers states. Thereafter, the 35 governors voted for the candidates of their choice.
"At the end of the voting, the Governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, scored 19 votes while his rival, the Governor of Plateau State, Mr. Jonah Jang, scored 16 votes.
"Consequently, Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State was declared the winner of the election. At the trial of this suit, the plaintiff will rely on the video recording of the election which has been broadcast by theAIT and Channels Television stations."
The Osun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, told SUNDAY PUNCH on Friday that pro-Amaechi governors were fully behind Fashola.
Speaking through his Commissioner for Special Duties and Regional Integration, Mr. Ajibola Basiru, Aregbesola said Fashola, as a member of the NGF, had the right to challenge any illegality by the forum.
Aregbesola said, "Any action to further entrench democracy is supported by Osun. This suit is one of such actions. Jang's action is ridiculous. Recent developments have shown that he didn't win the election.
"When he wanted to inaugurate the forum's secretariat in Abuja, he sent invitation cards to governors and only 16 governors, including himself, honoured the invitation. If you truly won an election and you feel you are being denied your mandate, you go to court. You don't resort to self-help."
Similarly, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State said he was fully in support of his Lagos State counterpart action's to stop the pro-Jang governors from operating through the court action.
Fayemi, who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Olayinka Oyebode, said Amaechi won the NGF election which was credible and that the opening of another secretariat was illegal.
He said, "Mr. Governor is fully in support of the court action. He is aware of it and he is throwing his weight behind Governor Fashola on this matter."
Reacting to Fashola's court action, the Secretary to the Plateau State Government, Prof. Shedrack Best, said if pro-Amaechi governors were in the majority, there was no need for a law suit.
"If Governor Fashola claims that his camp has the majority, he does not need to go to court. Let him call them and showcase them."
Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko, who is in Jang's camp, also said governors were free to stop being members of the forum "because it is a free association."
He said, "We are not proud of what has happened. We are saying we must sit for what is just. It is an association of equals. It is a voluntary association. Anybody can pull out without any consequences.
"A situation where a chairman of a forum of equals decided to contest election while holding the position is not right.
"Some of us argue that he (Amaechi) was there by consensus and we expected that he should step down. Immediately he indicated his interest, I said he must dissolve the house then elect a pro tem chairman. Yes, it has always been a consensus issue and we know that the PDP endorsed Jang. If somebody planted a camera somewhere because it was his own house or because of lack of respect for others, it is too bad."
Efforts to speak with the Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Olisa Metuh, on Friday were futile. When one of our correspondents called him on the phone, there was no response from Metuh. Subsequent calls made to his phone were not picked.
Jang who is believed to have the backing of President Goodluck Jonathan had lost the chairmanship election to Amaechi by 19 votes to 16.
He, however, refused to accept defeat and instead proclaimed himself as the authentic chairman of the forum.
Jang also appointed a sole administrator in place of the director-general of the forum.
Few days after Amaechi won the election with the support of opposition governors, the PDP suspended him as its member.
Jang's faction of the NGF also opened a parallel secretariat in Abuja on Thursday.
________________________________________________________________________________________________
__._,_.___
Reply via web post Reply to sender Reply to group Start a New Topic Messages in this topic (3) Please note that membership into our focused and specialized groups are by Invitation. If interested, you may reply to our Invitation to become a member. Also, you may directly send a message using the SUBSCRIBE Links above to subscribe yourself in a specific group. The subscription policy in these Groups shall be "EASY COME, EASY GO." All requests for subscription require the approval of Moderators.
Thanks.
Martin Akindana
Moderator
ChtAfriK Network Groups - the 'talk shop' of the African village.
...setting the pace in innovation and specialization in the African net community.![Yahoo! Groups]()
.![]()
__,_._,___
You received this message because you are subscribed to the "USA-Africa Dialogue Series" moderated by Toyin Falola, University of Texas at Austin.
For current archives, visit http://groups.google.com/group/USAAfricaDialogue
For previous archives, visit http://www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa/ads/index.html
To post to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com
To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue-
unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "USA Africa Dialogue Series" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to usaafricadialogue+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
No comments:
Post a Comment