BY LINUS CHIBUIKE
AS attacks and counter-attacks continue on Governor Godwin Obaseki’s claim that the Federal Government printed N60bn to augment March allocation to states, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum has insisted it will not join issues with anyone on the matter.
While indicating that its silence since the controversy began was deliberate, the NGF said the issue had been clarified by the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed.
Chairman, NGF, and Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, took this stand on Monday while fielding questions from State House correspondents after a meeting with the Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Gambari, in Abuja.
Fayemi was supported at the briefing by the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Governors Forum and Vice Chairman of NGF, Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State; Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum and Governor of Kebbi State, Atiku Bagudu; Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum and Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong; and Chairman of the Conference of Speakers.
The NGF Chairman offered to answer a question on the position of the PDP Governors, which was directed at Tambuwal, saying Tambuwal was there as the Vice Chairman of the NGF and not as Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum.
“He (Tambuwal) is not here as Chairman of PDP Governors Forum. I can even talk on behalf of him here. He is here as my Vice Chairman, and have you heard any statement from the NGF on this?” Fayemi asked.
On why the NGF did not issue any statement on the matter, he said, “It is because this is not an issue that requires a statement from the governors. The Honorable Minister of Finance has dealt with it. The issue is out there for you to deal with.”
