Governor Abudulazeez Yari of Zamfara on Tuesday emerged as the new chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) by consensus for a period of one year.

Former chairman of the body, Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers, made this known to newsmen in Abuja, at the end of the forum’s meeting.

He said that the new chairman was selected through consensus.

It would be recalled that the forum had been factionalised since May, 2013, after its election, because some members were not pleased with the outcome.

Announcing that the factions had collapsed, Amaechi said: “We are hereby reconciled and united as a single umbrella association of the 36 state governors of Nigeria, regardless of party and region.”

The governor congratulated the President-elect, Maj.-Gen. Mohammadu Buhari, on his victory at the March 28 presidential election, and President Goodluck Jonathan for his statesmanship in accepting the election result.

He stressed the need for the Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, to provide explanations on fund accrued to the Excess Crude Account from June, 2013, to April, 2015.

This, the governor said, was because funds in the excess crude were last disbursed in May, 2013.

He announced that the forum was planning to establish an academy which will be called “The NGF Leadership Academy.”

According to him, the academy will be responsible for capacity building for governors and other public office holders. It would be overseen by NGF Secretariat.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting, which commenced at 8 p.m. on Monday was attended by no fewer than 20 governors.

NAN also reports that Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom and his counterpart of Delta, Emmanuel Uduaghan, who were arrowheads of the Governor Jonah Jang’s faction of the forum, were visibly elated at the meeting.

Other governors, who attended the meeting included those of Niger, Benue, Kaduna, Bauchi, Zamfara, Osun, Kebbi, Zamafara, Edo, Nassarawa, Oyo and Kwara.

Deputy Governors of Kano, Kogi and Imo, however, represented their governors, while Akwa Ibom Governor-elect, Mr Emmanuel Udom, was present.

Yari, the new NGF chairman, was elected governor of Zamfara on the April 26, 2011, on the platform of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP).

He was re-elected in the just-concluded general elections on the All Progress Congress (APC) platform for another four-year term.

Yari was chairman, Zamfara chapter of the ANPP, one of the political parties that merged to form the APC in 2013.

The new NGF chairman told NAN that the forum would work with the incoming APC administration in the interest of the nation.

“We are coming together after the bitter experience we had after our disintegration.

“As a ranking governor with experience, I know the situation in the states. During my period, I will work harder. I will also share from my colleagues’ experiences based on our bitter experience.

“We will all work hard for the betterment of our respective states and the people, in collaboration with the incoming president,” he said.

The NGF, a coalition of elected governors of the 36 states was formed after the American Governors Association.

It seeks to promote unity, good governance, better understanding and co-operation among states.

It also seeks to ensure a healthy and beneficial relationship between the federating states and other tiers of government. (NAN)

•Photo shows Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, addressing the press during yesterday’s meeting on reconciliation. He is flanked on the right by Zamfara State Governor, Alh. Abdul-Azeez Yari, the new chairman of NGF, and on the left by Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State.

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