By Suzan Edeh
BAUCHI—The Bauchi State governor, Isa Yuguda has taken back his words on his earlier decision to withdraw from the Northern States Governors Forum, NSGF.
Yuguda had resigned his membership of the NSGF in the aftermath of the Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF, election on May 24, saying he would not go back to the forum because of the unfairness at the forum.
Incumbent Chairman of the NGF, Governor Rotimi Ameachi of Rivers State however, emerged winner of the election, after it was collectively agreed that Governor Jang should be the chosen and adopted candidate. Amaechi polled 19 votes to beat Jang who scored 16.
Yuguda, an ardent member of the Jang-led bloc, said then, “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. For the remaining two years of my tenure I will not be part of the NSGF. I want any northern governor to come out and say yes, I voted [at the NGF election] and 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.”
Yuguda, has, however, made a U-turn saying that having given fair considerations to appeals made by northern elders for him to eschew sentiments and give fair representation to the north, he had decided to return to the forum.
The Governor who spoke to newsmen, yesterday, at Government House in Bauchi through his Chief of Staff, Alhaji Yusuf Gumli, said: “I however decided to mend fences by letting go of the past and return to the forum. I have decided to heed the appeals from concerned elders in the north who want me give fair representation to the north in the forum.
“As an obedient son, I have accepted their appeals and gone back to the forum. I have never taken sides with Jonah Jang, I was only working under the instruction of the NSGF so that Plateau State will be the centre of north,where there is a fair representation.”
On his alleged presidential aspiration, the Governor said it was not a sin for him to aspire for the post of the president, vice-president or even the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, governor, adding that,“there is nothing wrong for one to aspire to any position in the country so long as due process is followed.”
He dismissed allegations making the rounds that the crisis in Plateau State was being fuelled by the Bauchi State Government, pointing out that it was also wrong for the Plateau State government to blame its failure to address its insecurity challenges on Bauchi State.
“Bauchi State also faces its own insecurity problems and have never blamed anybody for it. For instance, the state has been battling with the issue of Tafawa Balewa crisis for years and had braced up for the challenge. If the state government is to make excuses for its failure, we will still be having crisis in the state and that is why until today, people can run to Bauchi State find safety because the state accommodates everybody irrespective of tribe, ethnicity or religion,’’ he said.
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