The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has broken its silence on the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State, explaining why it has refrained from making any public statements.

The Director-General of the NGF, Abdulateef Shittu, stated that the forum, being a technical and policy-driven organisation comprising governors elected from different political parties, avoids taking positions that could create divisions among its members.

In a statement issued on Saturday, Shittu clarified the NGF’s stance, saying:

“The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has received media enquiries requesting it to comment on some recent political developments in the country.

“The forum wishes to clarify that it is an umbrella body for subnational governments to promote unified policy positions and collaborate with relevant stakeholders in pursuit of sustainable socioeconomic growth and the well-being of the people.

“As a technical and policy hub comprising governors elected on different platforms, the body elects to steer clear of taking positions that may alienate members with varying political interests.

“In whatever language it is written, taking positions on contentious partisan issues would mean a poor sense of history—just a few years after the Forum survived a fundamental division following political differences among its members.

“Regardless, the Forum is reputed for its bold positions on governance and general policy matters of profound consequences, such as wages, taxes, education, and universal healthcare, among others.

“We call for the understanding of the public and the media, confident that appropriate platforms and crisis management mechanisms would take care of any such issues.”

The statement comes amid heightened political tension in Rivers State, with various stakeholders calling for intervention from different quarters, including the NGF.

However, the forum has maintained that it will continue to focus on policy and governance matters rather than partisan disputes.