PGF issues have been resolved — Gov Sani

…says party members will decide their candidates for elections

Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has said the issues that recently rocked the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) have been resolved, assuring that governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) remain united.

Sani, who is the vice chairman of the Forum, spoke on Monday night during an appearance on Politics Today monitored by the Nigerian Tribune in Abuja, amid reports that the chairman of the Forum and Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma, was set to be replaced by Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, following disagreements within the group.

The Kaduna governor described the development as a minor misunderstanding, saying disagreements were normal in a democratic setting.

He said, “It’s a topic that no one want to talk about. But in my own opinion I don’t think it’s a serious issue like many people try to make it look like. Because in everything when you are talking about democracy, people can choose to disagree then agree.

“So, in my own opinion, it was just a slight misunderstanding which of course as you said, as the vice chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, I can tell you authoritatively that things are okay, there’s no any problem. Now we’re united.

“As usual for some of us that believes in democracy, we believe you cannot just say that you can’t disagree once in a while but I don’t think there is anything that is that serious.”

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Sani added that the leadership of the Forum remains unchanged and insisted there was no crisis within the body.

He said, “At the moment, there’s no problem, all the governors are together. His Excellency, Hope Uzodinma is the chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, my humble self, Senator Uba Sani, is the vice chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum.

“And I don’t think you will hear anything again. For me in my own opinion, that’s democracy and we can choose to agree and disagree. It’s normal.

“For someone like me maybe because of my background, someone who came from civil rights movement, we believe in democracy. It’s normal to disagree but like I said, my point is clear, you’ll never hear anything.

“It’s just a slight disagreement but it has been resolved. I don’t think from that day you’ve heard anything. And of course if there’s any change of leadership, as the vice chairman I could have taken over but everything is okay.

“Just take my words that there is nothing serious, take my words. You know me if there’s problem, I’ll say it because of my background and antecedents I will say it.”

Speaking further on the APC’s mode of selecting candidates ahead of future elections, the governor said party members would ultimately determine who emerges as candidates.

According to him, consensus arrangements in Kaduna State are only adopted when all aspirants agree to the process.

He said the state government had continued to engage aspirants to ensure fairness and understanding among party members.

“Honestly, I’m not losing sleep about this situation at all. Let me give the example of my own state. I called on the aspirants and we agreed that where we can have consensus, let’s have consensus but where people do not agree with consensus, the Electoral Act is clear.

“We can have consensus until all the aspirants sit together and agree. But outside that, I feel it’s not right. In Kaduna, I made it clear to everyone.

“Even as a governor, you can have preference for somebody you so wish but at the same time as a human being, you can say I like this more than this, it is your personal opinion but at the end of the day, it’s the people, party members that ultimately decide who will become their candidates,” the governor stated.