Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and governor of Ekiti state, Dr Kayode Fayemi, Monday briefed President Muhammadu Buhari on the peace efforts initiated to settle the raging dispute between Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and Emir of Kano, Mr Muhammadu Sanusi II over creation of Emirates in the state.
The truce panel is chaired by former Head of State, General Abdulsalam Abubakar (retired) with Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina state as member.
Fielding questions from State House correspondents after a meeting with the president, said the governors’ forum was involved in the efforts to broker peace between the two leaders because Kano state is “a hotbed of politics in Nigeria and our flagship in the APC.”
“The committee has just started its work. You may recall that I have been involved in resolving the problem we have in Kano for some time. I have had course as chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, of working with some key stakeholders in Kano to bring both parties together.
“What what we are doing now is essentially an expanded committee of the elders chaired by General Abdulsalam Abubakar and comprising very distinguished Nigerians. From our forum, myself and Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katrina state are also members of the committee.
“We are already having preliminary discussions with both parties and we know that they are both desirous of peace in Kano.
“We have also briefed Mr President on the mission of this body. It is not a federal government body, I must say that, but the Federal Government, that is Mr President, is not averse to anything that can assist in ensuring that there is peace in one of the most political states in our country.
“Anything to avoid a volatile situation that may result in an unfortunate development is not wanted and it is our expectation that given the positive response from both Ganduje and the Emir of Kano, we will come to a resolution of the problem.”
On whether the committee will achieve its aim, the NGF chairman replied, “If it is not possible we won’t even be doing this. Everybody is concerned, Kano is the hotbed of politics in this country.
“Kano is our own flagship state in APC. But this is not just a party issue, the people that are involved in this primarily are not politicians. The only reason we are involved is of course because governor Ganduje is our colleague in the Nigeria Governors Forum and we are desirous of pushing for peace,” he said.
He said the governors’ forum is also involved in similar mission to resolve the political crisis in Rivers, Edo and Bayelsa states.
