The Governor of Borno state, Kashim Shettima has been elected chairman of the Northern States Governors' Forum [NSGF], an umbrella body of all elected governors from the northern part of Nigeria.

Mr. Shettima was elected at the meeting of the NSGF which held Monday at the Niger State Governors Lodge in Abuja.

The current Deputy Governor of Kano state and also the Governor- elect for the state, Abdullahi Ganduje, was elected deputy chairman.

The new leaders of the body would be inaugurated at its next meeting either in the month of June or July with all former governors of northern extraction in attendance.

The outgoing Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Niger State, Mua'zu Babangida Aliyu also confirmed to reporters that all the 36 governors in the country have agreed to set aside their differences and come under one umbrella in the Nigeria Governors' Forum.

Mr. Mu'azu said they decided to unite the forum in order to help rebuild the body for a better Nigeria.

" The goal is to mediate and unite the Nigeria Governors' Forum, that has been fragmented in the past few years."

Mr. Aliyu also said the northern governors have resolved to address the Boko Haram insurgency in the north-east.

The Niger Governor said his colleagues in the north remain committed to fighting poverty, marginalization and unemployment in the region.

Mr. Aliyu said the governors were working with Vice President Namadi Sambo to revive the moribund New Nigeria Newspaper in Kaduna .

In his acceptance speech, Mr. Shettima assured that with a unified front, the Boko Haram menace would be overcome.

He also said the NSGF would remain one united body under his leadership.

Governors who attended the meeting include Hassan Dankwambo of Gombe; Bala Ngilari of Adamawa; Ramalan Yero of Kaduna; Muazu Aliyu of Niger; Gabriel Suswam of Benue; Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara; Kashim Shettima of Borno; Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara; Isa Yuguda of Bauchi; and Saidu Dakingari of Kebbi as well as Kano Governor- elect, Abdullahi Ganduje and Kogi State deputy Governor, Yomi Awoniyi.