Tasks Before New Governors’ Forum Chair

THE Coalition of Governors in Nigeria elected the Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, as the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum during their last meeting in Abuja.

FAYEMI thus becomes the first governor in the Southwest to mount the exalted position.

THE HOPE therefore commends the governors for putting aside their political differences  and voting overwhelmingly for their new chairman. We also congratulate Fayemi to use this great opportunity given him to deepen democracy in the country and improve on  challenges of governance.

IT gladdens one’s heart that Fayemi had in his acceptance speech promised to build on his predecessor’s commitment toward strong partnership with the federal government.

NO doubt, the tasks ahead are onerous, and thus make expectations of Nigerians high but Fayemi should see the challenges as surmountable. He should deploy his expertise and knowledge to reposition the Governors’ Forum with the view to meeting the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians.

AGAIN he should use his knowledge to galvanise and refocus the group at playing the role of taking the country into greatness.

THIS is an opportunity for Fayemi  to reduce unnecessary bickering in the Forum and make his colleagues attend to the multifarious needs of the country and its citizens.

UNFORTUNATELY, some Nigerians believe that the Forum is a group of selfish people whose main interest is to defend their interest. We cannot but tow this position since the Forum has not prevailed on some of its members to be moderate in the way they pay themselves and even force the legislative arm of their various states to approve jumbo severance packages, not minding whether such state can afford it.

WE recall the ignoble crisis within the Forum in 2015. This ultimately  led to creating tension in the country. Many are still surprised with the extravagant lifestyles of some of our governors moves down the policy.

WE therefore call on Fayemi to work on his colleagues to sink their ethnic  and political differences and work for the unity of Nigeria. Without unity, we believe Nigeria cannot achieve anything. The time has also come for members of the group to work together, share ideas and debate on issues that will make their various states great and Nigeria better.

WHAT Nigerians need at this auspicious time is good governance and real dividends of democracy. Fayemi should therefore galvanise his colleagues on these responsibilities in Nigeria .

WE suggest that the group should serve as an Ombudsman to fight against uncompleted projects. We charge the chairman to impress it on his colleagues on the need to work together in the areas of security, economy and agriculture. Doing this will not only promote unity, it will also allow the governors to share ideas on areas to be improved upon and particularly the in security threatening the corporate existent of Nigeria.

IT is of note that the country is highly divided. Governor Kayode Fayemi working in tandem with his colleagues should use the Forum to promote the country’s unity.

THE Governors’ Forum should learn from the  past crisis that tore the group apart. It should generate a picture of what Nigeria of tomorrow will be. Fayemi should use his position to impress it on Nigerians and the elites to be patriotic and shun parochialism.

HE should use the group to promote Nigeria’s integration and good leadership in the country.

WE congratulate Governor John Kayode Fayemi, the Executive Governor of Ekiti State, and wish him success in the new assignment bestowed on him.

The Hope wishes him the best of luck.