Opposition asks N’Assembly to ban governors’ forum

Two opposition political parties, the African Renaissance Party and the All Nigeria Peoples Party, have called on the National Assembly to begin the process of banning the Nigerian Governors’ Forum.
The parties said the current disposition of the forum was inimical to the development of democracy in the country.
Speaking in separate telephone interviews with our correspondent on Monday, chieftains of the political parties suggest that the governors were using the platform of t he NGF to force a different agenda from the  unity of growth of the country on the Federal Government.
National Chairman of the ARP, Chief Jackson Omenazu, attributed the emergence of the NGF to the structure put in place by the PDP-led government.
Citing the Sovereign Wealth Fund as an example, Omenazu expressed surprise that the forum had risen against most initiatives of the Federal Government.
On the constitutionality of the forum, Omenazu disagreed with the Director-General of the NGF, Mr. Asishana Okauru, saying that the body had no legal backing by the Nigerian Constitution.
He explained that the formation of the NGF and other zonal governorship bodies was causing confusion in the country’s polity.
“While we call on the National Assembly to start the process of banning the NGF, Mr. President should order the Inspector General of Police to stop the forum from meeting.
“There is no place in the constitution where the Nigerian Governors’ Forum is supported. The governors should face the responsibility of developing their states. They should not be allowed to hold the country to ransom.
The NGF has no constitutional right to challenge the Presidency. If they (governors) are aggrieved, they have the right to go to court as individual states,” Omenazu said.
Similarly, the former National Vice Chairman of the ANPP, Chief Asukewe Iko-Awaji, said it was disturbing to hear the NGF speak against local government autonomy.
Iko-Awaji observed that the governors were always in support of each other even when they had gone against the popular opinion of Nigerians.
He said it was wrong for the Legislature to keep quiet and allow the governors to continue to act as if the country belonged to them alone.
“I am of the opinion that the NGF is unconstitutional and should be banned. From the day the body has been formed, it has always been one controversy or the other.
“The NGF is like a cult formed by the governors to do whatever they like. Any move made to call any of them (state governors) to order, you will see all of them coming together like okada riders,” the ANPP former chief added.