Governors Slam Forum Over Silence On ‘N30bn Largesse’

Allegations by Senate President Godswill Akpabio that the federal government recently gifted N30bn to state governors have caused anger and exposed divisions within the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF).

The NGF Secretariat is the technical and administrative arm of the Forum which oversees its daily operations, giving direction and focus to the NGF by effectively engaging partners and stakeholders.

Akpabio had claimed on Tuesday that each state governor had received the payment from the Federal Inland Revenue Service to help with rising inflation.

The claim brought a swift denial from Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, who said his state had received no such funds.

The governor spoke on Thursday while commissioning the newly-renovated multi-billion Naira Iseyin Central Mosque facilitated by legal icon, Ahmed Raji (SAN) in Iseyin, Oyo State. He also warned that leaders should instill confidence and hope in the citizenry in this trying time rather than playing the blame game.

However, LEADERSHIP gathered that Vice President Kashim Shettima was said to have urged governors not to respond publicly to Akpabio at last week’s virtual National Economic Council meeting.

But there was clear annoyance at an emergency NGF video meeting last week attended by over 20 governors.

The one item agenda meeting was to address the ongoing food insecurity in the country, but it accorded a few governors the opportunity to address the Forum’s chairman and Governor of Kwara State on his leadership of the body.

According to a source, Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed questioned why the NGF secretariat had not issued a rebuttal of Akpabio’s claims.

Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma said the NGF secretariat had abandoned its mandate and was instead serving the interests of former chairmen of the forum.

The NGF secretariat and its director-general, Asishana Okauru, have faced criticism over their response to the crisis, amid claims of administrative ineptitude.

After that intervention by Governor Uzodinma, the chairman of the Forum asked if there were any further comments, but the governors were mum, and the meeting was adjourned.

To address the food crisis, a six-man committee was set up to quickly provide answers from the governors’ perspective. The committee comprises governors Soludo of Anambra, Alex Otti of Abia, Hyacinth Alia of Benue, Uba Sani of Kaduna, and Sanwo-Olu of Lagos, among others.