Worried by recent developments in the region, Governors of the 19 Northern states have met in Kaduna to deliberate on several issues affecting the peace and development of the region.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to Benue State Deputy Governor, Ogaba Ede and made available to journalists in Makurdi.
The statement said chairman of the Governors’ Forum, and governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong said the meeting is meant to review developments in the region after their last meeting where the issue of banditry and the general insecurity in the region, as well as the larger society, topped the issues for discussion.
He explained that in addition to the issue of insecurity, which has not abated, the governors will also examine and articulate the region’s position on the Value Added Tax (VAT) controversy.
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The Governors are joined at the meeting by traditional rulers from the region led by the chairman, Northern Traditional Rulers Council, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, the Senate President, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Secretary to the Federal Government and the Chief of Staff to the President.
Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir El- Rufai and the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaj Sa’ad Abubakar in separate welcome addresses, called on the participants, to discuss as brothers, and people with the same destiny to enable them address the burning issues that confront them.
The Next Edition reports that Governor Samuel Ortom is represented at the meeting by his deputy, Engr. Benson Abounu, while the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Tony Ijohor, SAN, is also in attendance as Secretary of State for the other 18 northern states.
