POLITICAL observers in Akwa Ibom State said what happened in the Governors’ Forum is a ‘cool war’ that had beclouded the body for months, if not years. They blame it all on 2015

To them, the man at the center of the storm, Rotimi Amaechi is seen as a threat to the unclear second term ambition of the incumbent Present Goodluck Jonathan. To the politicians, the Rivers State governor’s alleged interest to become the number two citizen come 2015, will compromise his position as chairman of the governors’ body, as well as frustrate the chances of Jonathan.

To them, the role played by the chairman of the Forum of Peoples Democratic Party Governors, chief Godswill Akpabio, in determining the chairmanship of the Forum is not out of place.

Elder Ntienyong Inyangmme said; “Whatever people would say about our governor in his role during and even after the NGF election does not matter because he was doing what is expected of him as PDP governors’ leader; we in the state are proud of him.”

To him, Akpabio was right to ensure that somebody with absolute loyalty is made the chairman of the Forum, so that party does not witness crisis come 2015.

“In politics, it is hundred percent loyalty and nothing more, so what transpired was not a gang-up against any governor.”

Corroborating that view, the chairman, Rules and Business in the Senate, Senator Ita Solomon Enang said it is a thing of happiness to the people of the state and Nigerians that Governor Akapbio is not a domesticated governor; that for him to have his voice heard at the national level is a plus to the state, above all for the PDP governors to listen to him is also a good development for the country.

Enang said of the events in NGF; “I am a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and that is a matter playing out in the realm of body of governors, and so it is making the political system and space very active and it is laying precedence, it is creating lessons in the polity. As for the substance of the issues of the Forum, I am not competence to speak on it.

“But for the action of our governor, taking a role at the national level on national politics and coming up to hold a position and is acceptable by his colleagues, I think the people should be happy that we do not have a domesticated governor, that we have a governor that is able to take a role, have a say, take a step at the national level and others will say yes and follow him.

“On the controversy at the Forum, I will plead my privilege not to go into it directly, but I want to commend the governor of Akwa Ibom state for steering up to be recognised at the national level and being acceptable to lead as chairman of PDP governors; and of course, as chairman of PDP governors he has to steer the PDP and governors in a direction where his opinion would be in the best interest of the PDP and democracy in Nigeria.”

Speaking in same vain, the state commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr. Aniekan Umanah said governor Akapbio is chairman of the PDP governors and his sole responsibility is to galvanize the PDP governors and ensure that they work together in the interest of the party and government of the country.”

He argued that the seeming controversy in the PDP is not going to tear the party apart, rather it is going to strengthen the party the more.

“It is part of democratic process, people must come together and agree on what to do, choose who they want to choose and follow who they want to follow; that is freedom, freedom of political association, expression of doing what you want to do, so the PDP governors are working for the interest of their party and you will see the PDP emerging stronger,” he said.

Speaking on this issue, a veteran journalist, Mr. Aniefiok Udonquak, observed that the role of Governor Akpabio in the matter was that of stabilizing the national polity.

According to him, “You can see because of his commitment and determination to issues of national interest he has become a rallying point in the country and coupled with his development stride in Akwa Ibom, he has become a factor in the country. In democracy, people are bound to disagree, so it is not a gang-up, it is a normal process in democracy.

“In fact, it would have been a surprise if the result of the election was accepted by all, it happens even in advanced democracies; elections have always been contentious, that of NGF is no exception. The idea that what transpired is a gang-up against Governor Amaechi is a non-issue.”