Buhari tasks Fayemi with ending religious and ethnic divisions in his new job as NGF chairman

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has tasked the new chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State to use his new position to address the problems of religious and ethnic differences across the country.

Yesterday, Governor Fayemi was elected as the NGF chairman by consensus after he was proposed by Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State and seconded by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State. He takes over from Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State and will serve for a two year term until 2021.

Highly influential, the NGF is the body which represents all of Nigeria 36 governors and its chairman is normally a close confidant of the president. Governor Fayemi, who once served as minister for solid minerals, already has a close relationship with President Buhari and his tenure is expected to be one during which the NGF and presidency work closely together.

President Buhari urged Governor Fayemi to use his new position to forge a deeper harmonious and fruitful working relationship not only with the federal government but also with other arms and tiers of government. He expressed delight that Governor Fayemi’s choice was by consensus, indicating the degree of confidence reposed in him by his colleagues.

 “The focal objective of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum at all times ought to be the higher interest of the people of this country above partisan, political, religious or regional differences," President Buhari said. He also expressed the readiness of the federal government to support the NGF to realise its laudable objectives.

While wishing Governor Fayemi a successful tenure, President Buhari commended his immediate predecessor Governor Yari of Zamfara State for his leadership as chairman of the NGF. In his acceptance speech, Governor Fayemi expressed gratitude for the confidence reposed on him by his colleagues.

Governor Fayemi said: “We will build on commitment with a strong partnership with the federal government as federating unit and trash out issues as amicably as possible, in the overall interest of the country. Whatever we are going to do will be in overall interest of the nation in ensuring that our states are continuously strengthened.

He pledged to build on the achievements of his predecessors and success stories of the forum, commending the outgoing chairman and the secretariat for their commitment to states and Nigeria at large. Governor Fayemi also promised that they would represent the interests of Nigeria irrespective of their political affiliations.

Also yesterday, Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State was elected as the NGF vice chairman. In a related development, Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State was elected as the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Governors Forum.