Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has dismissed reports of a major crisis within the Progressive Governors’ Forum, describing the recent disagreement among members as a “slight misunderstanding.”
PrimeTimes Nigeria reports that Sani spoke on Monday during an appearance on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme.
Last week, reports emerged that Hope Uzodimma, governor of Imo State, had allegedly been removed as chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum and replaced by Peter Mbah, governor of Enugu State, after a tense meeting in Abuja.
The reports also suggested that the forum had split into two camps.
While Uzodimma maintained that he remained chairman of the forum, another bloc was reportedly aligned with Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun and Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq.
However, governors loyal to Uzodimma later passed a vote of confidence in him during a meeting held at the Imo State Lodge in Abuja.
President Bola Tinubu was also said to have intervened in the disagreement.
Speaking on the matter, Sani, who serves as vice-chairman of the forum, insisted that there was no leadership change.
“At the moment, there’s no problem. All the governors are together. His Excellency Hope Uzodimma is the chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum,” he said.
“My humble self, Senator Uba Sani, is the vice chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum.”
The Kaduna governor said disagreements among political actors were normal in a democracy and should not be exaggerated.
“In my own opinion, I don’t think it’s a serious issue, like many people try to make it look like it’s a very serious issue,” he stated.
“Because, you know, in everything we are talking about democracy, people can choose to disagree and agree. So, in my own opinion, it was just a slight misunderstanding.”
Sani assured party supporters that the issue had been resolved and dismissed speculations of an ongoing split within the forum.
“I don’t think you will hear anything again. I can assure you, you can’t hear anything again,” he said.
“It’s just a slight disagreement, not a serious issue, but a slight disagreement. But it has been resolved.”
The governor added that if there had been any leadership change in the forum, he would have automatically assumed office as chairman in his position as deputy chairman.
“And of course, if there’s any change of leadership, sitting here as the vice chairman, I could have taken over,” he said.
“But I can tell you, I was there. And I was the one who made that statement clear that we are united. Everything is okay.”