Governor of Bauchi State, Mallam Isa Yuguda on Wednesday revealed that his return to the Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) was masterminded by “elders.”
And on returning, he has also revealed that he would only recognise Governor of Plateau State, Jonah Jang as Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF).
“As elders, who I respect so much, I cannot say no to them,” he said while speaking on his return to the forum. “They have beckoned on me to reconsider my decision and return to the forum, which works for the interest of the people. That is why I am returning to the NSGF.”
Yuguda denied insinuations of a crisis of confidence between him and Jang, assuring that there was no form of rancour whatsoever.
“I can tell you that there is no rift whatsoever between Governor Jang and I, who also has deep respect and love for me and my administration,” he said. “We shall continue to work symbiotically for the interest of the two states and Nigeria and shame our detractors. As I have said before, Jang remains my Chairman of the NGF and I cannot recognize anybody else.”
Yuguda had announced his decision to quit the NGF after the controversial election of the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), in protest against members of the NSGF who voted for Governor Rotimi Amaechi after an earlier agreement of the NSGF that Jang should be voted for.
“I don’t see any reason why I should attend the Northern Governors meeting again. Yes! If that is what we will do, I am not going to be a part of it,” he had said.
“I want any northern governor to come out and say yes, I voted against Jang. I will then ask him why — after sitting with me in the Northern Governors meeting and agreeing on a consensus candidate, after saying Shema and I should withdraw for Jang — he then went and voted against Jang. I would like to know why.”
