Information reaching us has indicated that the governors on the platform of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were arm-twisted to endorse the candidacy of President Goodlcuk Jonathan for the 2015 election with promise not to use the anti corruption agencies: Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to haunt them after their tenures.
Though there was no known petition against any of the governors who are still enjoying immunity now, aides and children of some of them were however said to have been interrogated by the operatives of the EFCC.
It was learnt that some of the governors would have been picked up or invited for interrogation in connection with alleged fraud in their states but thanks to the immunity they are currently enjoying.
It will be recalled that two sons of Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, were some months ago arrested by the EFCC over an alleged N10bn fraud.
It was not clear if the two sons will no longer be prosecuted since their father, who was nursing presidential ambition, was among other PDP governors that had endorsed President Jonathan for a second term.
The conviction of three former governors was said to have made some of the serving governors to be apprehensive of what might befall them after leaving office.
Those convicted were Lucky Igbinedion (Edo), Diepreye Alamieyeseigha (Bayesla) and James Ibori(Delta).
Of the three former governors, Ibori was the only one convicted outside the country while Alamieyeseigha has been pardoned by President Jonathan, who served as deputy governor to the pardoned ex-convict.
Some other former governors like Gbenga Daniel (Ogun), Ayo Fayose (Ekiti), Chimaroke Nnamani (Enugu), Danjuma Goje (Gombe), Saminu Turaki (Jigawa) and Adebayo Alao-Akala(Oyo) are currently facing corruption charges.
A governor, who played a prominent role in the endorsement of the President by his colleagues, also said the President had agreed that all the outgoing governors are free to pick their successors.
He said: “because of this, just like the Presidential Convention on December 6 will be a formality, so it is going to be in most of our states on November 29 as we are going to be the one to pick our successors.”
He said the plan not to rock the boat in the states was also responsible for the party’s allowing the Acting Governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Fintiri, to be cleared before winning the governorship ticket in his state by the party.
“Fintiri’s clearance by the PDP appeal panel was significant because he ought not to have been allowed in the first place, but in order not to rock the boat, he was asked to run and he eventually won the ticket,” the governor added.
It was learnt the party and the President have agreed to support any of the governors who is interested in coming to the Senate.
Among the governors who have signified their interest in contesting senatorial election in their states are Gabriel Suswam (Benue), Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta), Godswill Akpabio(Akwa Ibom), Sulivan Chime(Enugu) and Babangida Aliyu(Niger).
[myad]
