Kogi State Governor, Capt Idris Wada yesterday in Abuja, emerged the first Vice Chairman of the Northern Governor’s forum.
At a meeting held in Niger State Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro, the Governor is to serve as first Vice Chairman to Gov. Kashim Shettima of Borno State while the Governor Elect of Kaduna, Nasiru El-Rufai emerged the second Vice Chairman of the forum.
The Governor who was represented at the meeting by his Deputy, Yomi Awoniyi, said the new leadership of Northern Governor’s Forum will work towards the unity and development of the region.
Capt Wada said the issues of poverty, insecurity and unemployment among other issues bedevilling the region will top the agenda of the new leadership.
Capt Wada described the reconciliation of forum members as in the interest of the unity and development of the region.
Also in his acceptance speech, Gov Kashim Shettima, described his emergence as a humbling experience, promised to carry along members of the forum irrespective of political and religious inclination.
Gov Shettima, said aside working for the unity of the region, efforts will be made to tackle, illiteracy and unemployment and commended the out going leadership of Gov Babangida Aliyu for successfully piloting the affairs of the Forum.
Earlier in his valedictory speech, Gov Babangida Aliyu, out gone Chairman of the forum, said the forum under his leadership was able to reposition the Northern Nigeria Development Company into a profit making organization, organized conferences and seminars to address poverty and improve the educational fortune of the region as well as the establishment of the Northern State University and the raising of N2billion under the Sarduana foundation amongst other achievements, thanked members for the cooperation given to him to serve.
In another development, Capt Wada has lauded the reconciliation that has taken place at the Nigerian Governor’s forum which saw to the emergence of Gov Yari Kyari of Zamfara State as Chairman.
The Governor was represented at the NGF meeting held at the Transcorp Hilton Abuja yesterday, said the reconciliation is coming at a better time when the nation is transiting, said the closing of ranks will help governor’s under the forum work towards meeting the expectations of Nigerians, and commended the various groups for their sacrifices that has led to the unification.
The NGF meeting was yesterday attended by twenty governor’s and some deputies. The meeting ended with a communique read by Gov Rotimi Ameachi of Rivers State, where the forum congratulated President Goodluck Jonathan for his statesmanship in conceding defeat at the recently held Presidential Election and congratulated General Mohammadu Buhari for emerging victorious at the polls.
