The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has finally broken its silence on the growing calls for it to weigh in on the six-month suspension of Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, by President Bola Tinubu. However, the response might not be what many expected.
In a statement released on Saturday in Abuja by its Director General, Abdulateef Shittu, the NGF made it clear that its hands are tied. The forum, which serves as an umbrella body for the 36 state governors, insists that it cannot take a stance on the matter due to its politically diverse membership.
“As a technical and policy hub comprising Governors elected on different platforms, the body elects to steer clear of taking positions that may alienate members with varying political interests,” the statement read.
The NGF emphasized that while it is known for its strong positions on governance issues such as wages, taxation, education, and healthcare, it avoids involvement in politically charged conflicts that could divide its members.
“In whatever language it is written, taking positions on contentious partisan issues would mean a poor sense of history—just a few years after the Forum survived a fundamental division following political differences among its members,” Shittu added.
The statement reassured the public that existing crisis management mechanisms and appropriate platforms would handle the situation. However, for those expecting a strong stance from the governors, it seems they’ll have to look elsewhere.
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