The South-East and South-South Governor’s Forum rose from its meeting on Sunday with the decision to pursue an eight point agenda bordering on creating unity, love progress and general development of the country.
It also particularly resolved to work towards improving the two regions – South-South and South-East – in all ways.
In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting which was held at the Government House, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, the governors subscribed to contributing with great dedication to the destiny and greatness of Nigeria.
The governors also agreed to pursue the inter-regional co-operation and integration of their regions for the purpose of improving lives.
Specifically, the group resolved to: Pursue inter-regional cooperation and integration for the common good of the regions’ people; work together politically, align and re-align as a people that share common heritage, culture and affinity; articulate and advocate for issues affecting the wellbeing of the regions and continue to subscribe to the destiny and greatness of Nigeria and call upon Nigerians to put their hands on the plough and rise to claim their rightful place in the Comity of Nations.
Also, the governors condemned hate speech in national discourse whether in individual communication, or utterances of political actors or parties; urged security agencies to set up joint border patrols and develop more proactive strategies in combating crime and criminality; urged the Federal Government to come up with a clear policy on concession of Federal roads and to fast-track the process in order to ameliorate the sufferings of the people of the regions.
The forum also urged the Federal Government to encourage investors in the oil and gas industry to operate from within the regions and also make the investments in the sector in the region.
Before their resolve, the governors expressed dismay over the deplorable state of federal roads in the two regions.
They said it was sad that none of the airports and seaports located in the regions was reasonably functional, and that neither of the two regions was linked by any rail services.
They also reasoned that the Federal presence in the regions was very minimal and only noticeable in the presence of policemen.
Also, they said disheartening was the emerging trend where approvals for investments in the oil and gas industry were granted for location in other parts of Nigeria with laying of pipelines in deep waters rather than locating the projects in the areas that produce the resources.
Present at the meeting which was chaired by Mr. Udom Emmanuel, Governor of Akwa Ibom State, were Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State; Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State; Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State; Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State and Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State.
Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State was also present.
Deputy governors who represented their governors were Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah, Acting Governor of Bayelsa; Dr. Nkem Okeke, Deputy Governor of Anambra; Philip Shaibu, Deputy Governor of Edo State and Prof. Ivara Esu, Deputy Governor of Cross River State.
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