Earlyface

Opposition governors Thursday defied the security situation in Borno State to gather in Maiduguri, its state capital, where they brainstormed on how to ensure that the All Progressives Congress (APC), comprising major opposition parties in the country, takes off successfully.

The governors, at the end of the meeting hosted by Borno State Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, in an apparent reaction to attempts by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to balkanise the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), said there was no alternative to the forum.

But the gathering was marred by multiple bomb explosions in the troubled city of Maiduguri that left three soldiers dead and an unspecified number of civilians injured.
Yesterday’s meeting was the third in the series by the governors since February 5 when they held their maiden meeting in Lagos to drive the quest by the opposition to form a strong coalition to wrest power from the PDP in the 2015 general election.
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), who was appointed the governors’ spokesman, told reporters after the meeting that rather than fomenting a crisis in the NGF, it should be strengthened for the good of the nation.

PDP, at a meeting in the State House last Sunday, presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan and attended by governors elected on the party’s platform and other party officials, had formed the PDP Governors’ Forum (PDP-GF), with Akwa Ibom State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, elected as the chairman.

However, despite the party’s assurances that the PDP-GF was formed not to rival the NGF, speculations are rife that the new forum was formed with the aim of reducing the influence of the NGF.

According to Fashola, the NGF must be seen in the proper context, as “it is a forum of governors across party lines.”

He explained that it was important to understand that at moments of national crises, the forum had stood up to proffer solutions, especially during the power vacuum that ensued following the prolonged illness of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, eventually leading to his death, as well as the fuel crisis.

He said: “We, the progressives, have resolved that anybody that means well for the nation has to understand that we can only strengthen this forum, the institution of the governors’ forum.”

Fashola’s counterpart in Imo State, Chief Rochas Okorocha, said the doors of the APC are open to receive new members.

“As you know, this is a big party coming up and Nigerians have not had it this good. Like all my colleagues have said, APC is a child of necessity simply because Nigerians are tired of PDP.

“They want something new and I assure you that most of the leaders in PDP are members of APC waiting for the right time to join,” he added.

On why Maiduguri was picked for the venue of the meeting despite its security challenges, Okorocha said it was to disprove the idea that the place was unsafe.
Osun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, also defended the choice of Maiduguri for the meeting, saying it was to identify with the people of the state.

“What is leadership? Leadership is courage; leadership is compassion; leadership is decisiveness. Those three things are the basis for our being here; to share with the people of Borno that they are Nigerians and whatever it is that they are going through, we are with them,” he added.

Announcing a donation of N200 million to the troubled states of Borno and Yobe, Aregbesola, who read the communiqué issued after the meeting to the press, said the governors were in solidarity with the two states and committed to the emergence of the new party.

On his part, Ogun State Governor, Mr. Ibikunle Amosun, assured Nigerians that the APC would soon become a reality, as the members were finalising plans for its effective take-off.

He said: “I don't want to agree with you that APC is no longer there; I believe we have a party, it is just for us to meet all the conditions and the regulations by INEC and you will agree with me that this is the third time we are meeting and we are forging ahead.

“All the necessary things that are needed are in place. We have set up all the necessary committees and by the time we have our next meeting, the reports will be submitted.

“All we want to do is for all of us to come together in spite of our party leanings to form APC. We are resolute and determined and by the next time we meet, you will see that all grey areas have been resolved.”

However, three soldiers were killed in   explosions that rocked some parts of Maiduguri on a day the opposition governors converged on the town.

The bomb blasts, which started at about 1 pm at Bolori, a distance of about 15 kilometres from the Government House, venue of the governors’ meeting, were targeted at a patrol vehicle of the Joint Task Force (JTF).

Confirming the incident, JTF spokesman, Lt. Col. Sagir Musa, said one civilian was killed while two others and a soldier were injured.