Earlier in the evening, yesterday, Governor Kashim Shettima emerged chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum, NSGF, taking over from the outgoing governor of Niger State, Dr. Babangida Aliyu who spent eight years as chairman.

His election came as the NGSF vowed to ensure reconciliation among the larger body of governors in the Nigerian Governors Forum, NGF. Reflective of that pledge, Governor Aliyu following the meeting of the northern governors led his colleagues to the scheduled meeting of the NGF called by the Governor Rotimi Amaechi-led faction.

Speaking after the meeting of the NGSF that took place at the Niger State Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro, Abuja yesterday night, Aliyu said that the move to mediate and unite all the governors would among others, help rebuild the body for a better Nigeria.

He said: “The goal is to mediate and unite the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, that has been fragmented in the past few years.”

Present at the meeting were governors of Gombe, Adamawa, Kaduna, Niger, Benue, Kwara, Borno, Zamfara, Bauchi, Kebbi, Kano Governor- elect, and Kogi State deputy governor.

The Deputy Governor of Kano State and the state’s Governor-elect, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje emerged deputy chairman of the NGSF. The new leadership would be inaugurated June or July with all former governors of northern extraction expected to be in attendance