President Goodluck Jonathan has denied any involvement in the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, NGF elections which ended on Friday in Abuja.
A statement yesterday by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Dr. Reuben Abati said, “We have noted with regret the mischievous effort by sections of the mass media to portray President Jonathan as an interested party and the main loser in yesterday’s election of the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF).”
Dr. Abati in the statement said contrary to the impression of presidential partisanship and interference in the affairs of the NGF, erroneously conveyed by some headlines in the media yesterday, President Jonathan, who is currently leading Nigeria’s delegation to the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, had no preferred candidate in the NGF elections and could, therefore, not have been “floored” by any other candidate, as some newspapers sensationally reported.
He said President Jonathan has the greatest possible respect for the Nigerian Governors’ Forum as an independent body of mature, responsible, and knowledgeable elected political leaders, who have a critical role to play in strengthening democratic governance in the country, and who are quite capable of running their own affairs without being ‘tele-guided’, as some media reports misleadingly implied.
“The president has always shown a willingness to work harmoniously with any leadership freely and independently chosen by the Governors’ Forum for the collective progress and development of all sections of the country and will continue to do so.
“He has not in the present instance or ever before, interfered in elections to leadership positions in the Governors’ Forum. Reports in the media which convey that impression are totally off the mark and the handiwork of mischievous individuals and groups with the intention of sowing the seeds of discord and disunity in the polity.”
Abati added that President Jonathan trusts that as true democrats and respected national political leaders, members of the Governors’ Forum will quickly resolve the issues and differences amongst them, which emerged yesterday and continue to contribute effectively to national development as a strong and progressive body.