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  • Politics
  • Updated: June 15, 2020

How APC Killed NGF, Turned Governors Union To Beggars' Forum - Wike

How APC Killed NGF, Turned Governors Union To Beggars' Forum

The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike says the Nigerian Governors' Forum (NGF) became a shadow of its former self immediately the All Progressives Congress (APC) took over the reins of power, lamenting that the once-powerful body has become a beggars' forum.

Speaking with reporters on Monday at the Government House in Port Harcourt, Wike stated that the NGF is now all about the interests of the ruling party, rather than focusing on good governance and interest of Nigeria and Nigerians.

He said, “Since 2015 when the APC took over leadership of the Governors' Forum, everything died; the forum is not what we used to have. It used to be a powerful forum. The APC has killed it and the forum is now focused on the interests of the ruling party, instead of focusing on good governance and interest of Nigeria and Nigerians.

“When the IG (Ibrahim Idris) withdrew my security aides and exposed me to danger, the Governors did not say anything. Yari (Abubakar) was the (NGF) President and a member of the APC. I told them that they’re being captured, and today the forum has become a Beggars Forum because they have to beg for everything.”

The Rivers Governor pointed out that the ongoing discussion on the Infectious Bill before the National Assembly showed that the forum has lost its bite, relevance and failed to play its role as an integral part of the nation’s democratic process.

Wike also took a swipe at the Progressive Governors' Forum, comprising his colleagues elected on the platform of the APC, stressing that the ordeal of Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, was a slap on the union’s face.

AllNews recalls that Obaseki was disqualified last week by the APC from its delegates election that will produce a candidate for the party ahead of the September governorship race in Edo over alleged defective qualifications.

Wike, who had hosted Obaseki in a private meeting on Sunday, said he would be happy should his Edo State counterpart joins the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to prosecute his re-election bid.

He asserted that the manner of Obaseki’s disqualification, despite the political implications for the APC, indicates that the ruling party was willing to throw caution to the wind and take the state by brute force.

The Rivers Governor warned the ruling party not to use the Police and Security to manipulate Edo election, stressing it could unleash civil disobedience in a magnitude of what is currently happening in the United States, over the killing of an African-America.

“They cannot get away with using the security force and INEC to have their way because everybody will be involved. Edo people will be involved. See what is happening in the US with George Floyd’s death, nobody expected that just one death can lead to all that,” he said. 

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