The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has clarified why it has yet to take a stance on the state of emergency declared in Rivers State.

On Tuesday, President Bola Tinubu suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for six months, citing prolonged political unrest and attacks on oil infrastructure. He then appointed retired Vice-Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as the state’s sole administrator.

Despite widespread condemnation from several stakeholders, including the South-South Governors’ Forum, the NGF has remained silent.

In a statement on Saturday, Abdulateef Shittu, Director-General of the NGF, explained that the forum is a non-partisan body that unites governors from different political parties, making it unwise to take a position that could “alienate members.”

“The Forum wishes to clarify that it is an umbrella body for subnational governments to promote unified policy positions and collaborate with relevant stakeholders in pursuit of sustainable socioeconomic growth and the well-being of the people,” the statement read.

“As a technical and policy hub comprising governors elected on different platforms, the body elects to steer clear of taking positions that may alienate members with varying political interests.

“In whatever language it is written, taking positions on contentious partisan issues would mean a poor sense of history—just a few years after the Forum survived a fundamental division following political differences among its members.”

Shittu emphasized that the NGF primarily focuses on governance and policy matters with broad implications, such as wages, taxation, education, and universal healthcare.