2015: Govs Plot Amaechi, Aliyu's Removal

Strong indication has emerged that the deepening crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may not end soon as the party’s strongest arm, the Governor’s Forum has joined the ‘roforofo’ fight.

The crisis looming in the highly organised Governor’s Forum and the Northern Governor’s Forum followed indications that two powerful members of the forum are using it to pursue their presidential ambition come 2015.

This is coming barely after 24 hours that the PDP secretary Mr. Olagunsoye Oyinola was sacked as the party scribe.

Those been accused of using their positions to pursue their political ambitions are the Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Rotimi, chairman of the Governor’s Forum, who is alleged to be harbouring vice presidential ambition and Mr. Babangida Aliyu, governor of Niger State, who is eyeing the office of president.The crisis is said to be causing disaffection among the governors, who a top political source said “is going to destroy the forum, if not properly handled”.

The looming crisis among the ranks of the governors is coming on the heels of revelation that some state governors from the southern part of Nigeria are having political consultations with key political elements in the north with a view to securing the Vice Presidential ticket come 2015.

Mr. Sule Lamido of Jigawa; Mr. Isa Yuguda of Bauchi and Shehu Shema of Katsina states are among other known politicians from the north who are also said to be eyeing the office of the president. Investigations revealed that Mr. Godswill Akpabio, governor of Akwa Ibom state, who is a dye-hard loyalist of former President Olusegun Obasanjo is among those showing interests in the VP slot.

Though top Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) sources claimed that many of the governors from the south south are not well disposed to President Goodluck Jonathan re-contesting the 2015 presidential election, it was gathered that the party as at today does not have any credible candidate that can run against Mr. Jonathan and defeat him in any political contest.

“People are just wasting their time because as we talk now, PDP does not have any credible candidate that can defeat President Jonathan in any contest. So whatever anybody is doing is just time wasting. Is it Aliyu, Lamido, Yuguda, Amaechi, Akpabio or Sherma? If these are the people, Mr. Jonathan should just go and sleep,” a serving governor told frontiersNews over the weekend.

FrontiersNews gathered that already the move has polarised the PDP as those who are opposed to the idea are moving to ensure that both Mr. Amaechi and Mr. Aliyu are removed as chairmen of both the Governors’ Forum and the Northern Governor’s Forum.

It was Learnt that some of the governors are said to be suspicious that Mr. Ameachi, chairman of the Governors’ Forum and Mr. Aliyu, chairman of the Northern governors forum are using the platforms to feather their political interest and many of the governors are moving for change of guards.Sources however said all permutations towards 2015 are still exploratory since President Jonathan has not declared his intention to run or not to run for second term.

Courtesy: FRONTIERS NEWS