Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has said it will not take a stance on the emergency rule declared by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Rivers State.
Gatekeepers News reports that Abdulateef Shittu, director-general of NGF in a statement on Saturday, said the group is a non-partisan body representing governors from different political parties, and taking a stance could “alienate members.”
The statement reads, “The Forum wishes to clarify that it is an umbrella body for subnational governments to promote unified policy positions and collaborate with relevant stakeholders in pursuit of sustainable socioeconomic growth and the well-being of the people.”
“As a technical and policy hub comprising Governors elected on different platforms, the body elects to steer clear of taking positions that may alienate members with varying political interests.”
“In whatever language it is written, taking positions on contentious partisan issues would mean a poor sense of history — just a few years after the Forum survived a fundamental division following political differences among its members.”
Shittu emphasised that the NGF focuses on governance and general policy matters of profound consequences, such as wages, taxes, education, and universal healthcare, among others.
