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By Emmanuel Adeleke
Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq has emerged as the new chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF).
This was contained in a statement signed by Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, at the end of the 7th emergency meeting of the state governors held on Tuesday night in Abuja.
According to Tambuwal, Abdulrazaq emerged through consensus, while Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde was chosen as vice chairman of the forum.
“On the leadership of the Forum, the Governor of Kwara State, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, emerged the new Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum through a consensus, and the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde is now the vice chairman.
“Members expressed satisfaction with the success of the just concluded induction for new and returning governors that took place between May 14 and 19, 2023.
“Members committed to sustained collaboration among the states through enhanced peer review, learning at the sub-national level and deepening the relationship with the federal government and other institutions.
“Finally, members were briefed by the Chairman of the Forum that the Hon. Minister of Finance has granted the request of the Forum to immediately stop further deductions from the accounts of states to meet Local Government Councils London Paris Club obligations and the monies so far deducted be paid back to the states,” Tambuwal said.
Abdulrazaq succeeds the outgoing governor of Sokoto State, Tambuwal, who became the Forum’s chairman in 2022.
The immediate past Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi was the substantive Chairman of the NGF until his second term in office came to an end in 2022, paving the way for Tambuwal who was his deputy to succeed him.