Abuja — Senate President, David Mark, yesterday sought the support of the 36 governors in the expeditious amendment of Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution.

He spoke when the governors visited the Senate to intimate it of its resolution, Friday, last week, that the Federal Legislature should pass a resolution recognizing Vice president Goodluck Jonathan as Acting President.

Mark stated, "Section 145 has a problem and we think we can quickly amend it here in the National Assembly and pass it on to you to help ensure concurrence by your State Houses of Assembly."

He told the governors that the resolution passed by the Senate was in the interest and unity of the nation, saying that fears in some quarters that the action amounted to the removal of President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua from office were unfounded.

Mark took time out to read to the governors the resolution that was passed by the Senate, saying, "This is to allay the fears that Yar'Adua has been removed from office."

He said having passed the resolution, it had become imperative that they (the governors) should give support to the Acting President and continue to work together as a team.

Mark commended the governors for "their honesty and courage and for their bold decision to come with us on this issue."

Chairman of the Governors' Forum, Dr. Bukola Saraki of Kwara State, who led his colleagues to meet with the Senate leadership, had commended the Senate for its resolution.

Saraki said, "On behalf of my colleagues, I want to thank you for according us this opportunity to meet with the leadership of the Senate.

"You would recall that on Thursday, in the earlier hours of the morning, I led a delegation of five of my colleagues to convey the request of the Executive Governors to have the opportunity to meet with the leadership of the Senate following the outcome of our meeting of the Governors' Forum on the state of the nation.

"I want to thank you for granting the request at you earliest convenience. We are here as 36 governors across different political parties under the National Governors' Forum to convey to you the resolution of our meeting.

"We met on Thursday (last week) and after a series of deliberations at our meeting, we took note and appreciated the provision of the Constitution in relation to the offices of the president and vice president."

He said the Forum also identified with the judgments of the court and called on all arms of government to support the Vice President in the interest of the country and until the President returns to the country.

According to him, "We also further resolved at the meeting to meet with the leadership of the National Assembly with a view to considering passing a resolution to formally recognise the Vice President as the Acting President of the country."

He said that while the Forum was on his way to the National Assembly yesterday, the resolution of the Senate empowering the Vice President to step in as Acting President was brought to its attention.

Saraki stated, "What we can say is to congratulate you, to commend you and to say that today (yesterday), you made us proud to be associated with you as being together at this time in the history of this great country."

He said the Forum was happy that the Senate was going along the same direction with it (Forum), pointing out that "We are making history to show partnership that exists between the State and the Federal levels of government."

He declared that the resolution passed by the Senate in tandem with the Forum resolution was a victory for the entire nation and insisted that the Senate, in particular, had made the Forum and the nation proud.

Governors who came with Saraki included: Ibrahim Shema (Katsina), Isa Yuguda (Bauchi), Segun Oni (Ekiti), Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta), Gbenga Daniel (Ogun), Olagunsoye Oyinlola (Osun), Alao Akala (Oyo), Theodore Orji (Abia), Timipre Sylva (Bayelsa), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), and Jonah Jang (Plateau).

Others were Aliyu Magatarkada Wammako (Sokoto), Saidu Dakingari (Kebbi), Gabriel Suswam (Benue), Peter Obi (Anambra), Adams Oshiomhole (Edo), Aliyu Akwe Doma (Nasarawa), Martins Elechi (Ebonyi), Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Mahmumd Shinkafi (Zamfara) and Liyel Imoke (Cross River).