News Investigators/ In a dramatic twist of event, members of the Progressive Governors’ Forum Friday reconvened to pass a vote of confidence on Imo State governor, Hope Uzodimma, declaring support for him as it’s leader.
The governor of Kebbi State, Nasir Idris who was present alongside 11 others moved the motion for the vote of confidence, stating that Mr. Uzodimma and Mr. Sani remain chairman and deputy chairman of the forum.
The move came on the heels of earlier skirmishes by some PGF members to dump Mr. Uzodimma and the emergence of governor Peter Mba of Enugu State as replacement.
Inside sources said Mr. Uzodimma rallied some loyal governor colleagues to counter his unceremonious removal with active support from Secretariat officials of the forum on his side.
The latest development signaled a crack within the PGF which sources said bothers on allegations of “high-handedness and over-bearing attitude” against Mr. Uzodimma.
“The problem has to do with feelings among the progressive governors that the Imo governor no longer sees himself as equal to his colleagues but rather exhibiting some toga of superiority.
When asked to give specific instance, the source gave example of when there are correspondence from the presidency on trips with Mr. President, “you would expect that he inform others. But oftentimes, he nominate himself for the trip and arrogate to himself the authority to chose who goes when members decide to get involved,” sources told News Investigators.
Another source who should know said the presidency was in fact embarrassed by the way the PGF is being run lately. “Let me tell you, the Thursday coup against Uzodimma got the tacit support of the presidency, otherwise it won’t have happened. They wanted him to go but also that the position should not leave the south east, hence the choice of governor Mba,” the source added.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) governors are 31 in number.
But on Friday evening, about 12 governors gathered behind closed doors at the Imo State Governors’ Lodge in Abuja and passed a vote of confidence in Mr. Uzodimma and his deputy, Kaduna Governor Uba Sani.
Governors from Ondo, Gombe, Kaduna, Taraba, Edo, Sokoto, Ebonyi, Borno, Lagos, Kogi, Kano, Yobe, Kebbi, Benue, and Jigawa attended physically. Nasarawa State was represented by its deputy governor.
Taraba Governor Agbu Kefas attended briefly before leaving after a short meeting with the host governor.
PGF Rift: Uzodimma Fights Back, As 12 APC Governors Pass Vote Of Confidence ln His Leadership
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