Exclusive News
Ekiti state state governor Kayode Fayemi , has been elected chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum.
Fayemi was chosen by a consensus after he was nominated by Nasir el-Rufai, with Ifeanyi Okowa, governor of Delta state, seconding his nomination.
Abdulaziz Yari, the immediate past chairman, announced this on Wednesday evening.
He said Fayemi was unanimously elected by the governors to lead the forum till 2021.
“Members also elected Governor Aminu Tambwal of Sokoto state as the vice-chairman of the forum from 2019 to 2021,” Yari said.
He explained that Tambuwal was nominated by Akinwumi Ambode, governor of Lagos state and seconded by Rotimi Akeredolu, his Ondo state counterpart.
Yari,while Reading the communiqué at the end of the meeting said that the forum was concerned with the recent guidelines of the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU).
The guidelines according to him sought to impose restriction on the powers of states and local governments to operate within constitutionally approved parameters.
On the call by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors to declare state of emergency on issue of insecurity, Yari said that they had all agreed to meet President Muhammadu Buhari for one-on-one discussion.
In his acceptance remark, Fayemi expressed his gratitude for the confidence reposed on him by colleagues.
He pledged to build on the achievements of his predecessors and success stories of the forum.
He pledged that they would represent the interests of Nigeria irrespective of their political affiliations.
“Whatever we are going to do will be in overall interest of the nation in ensuring that our states are continuously strengthened,” he said.
“Our country derives the benefit of strong, dedicated states to our citizens and the partnership with all arms of government, development partners working with us in the over all interest of Nigeria.
He commended the outgoing chairman and the secretariat for their commitment to states and Nigeria at large.
