The governors of the South-East and South-South on Sunday rose from a meeting resolving to take a common position on political issues and move as one.
The governors who met under the aegis of the South-East/South-South Governors’ Forum in Owerri, according to the communiqué signed by its Chairman, Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel, said their resolve was with the intention of protecting and bringing benefits to the political future and interest of the people of the two regions.
The communiqué reads in part: “The Forum discussed issues bordering on the prevalent political atmosphere in the country and resolved that the two regions will go as a bloc in the one direction that will protect and be beneficial to the political future and interest of the people of the region.”
The governors resolved to remain committed to one indivisible and indissoluble Nigeria and scheduled their next meeting for November 26 at Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.
The governors pointed out that their binding force was more than political affiliations and other considerations.
They also expressed worry about the dearth of infrastructure and unjustified lack of significant federal presence in the South-East and South-South regions.
They, therefore, called for more attention to be paid to infrastructural and other needs of the regions by the federal government.
The forum, while discussing the proposed amendment of the 1999 Constitution, resolved to take a position that would be in the best interest of the people of the two regions.
The governors also commended the role played by some patriots in instituting broad-based negotiations between the regions of the North and South-East, which led to the setting aside of the so-called “quit notice” issued by some misguided youths in the North to the Igbo resident in that part of the country.
They expressed the hope that it would be the last time any person or group of persons would make any statement or take actions that would suggest any part of the country was a no-go area to other Nigerians.
The forum commended the efforts of the security agencies, which had brought relative peace to the regions and across the country.
It said the efforts indeed contributed immensely to an increased and sustained oil production with the attendant benefits to the country.
It commended the efforts of all stakeholders who had worked to ensure that the regions remained calm and safe.
The forum expressed the hope that the efforts by the governors and other stakeholders to maintain peace and stability in the two regions would translate to the two regions reaping increased dividends in the form of greater attention paid to the urgent infrastructural and other needs of the regions.
The forum commended the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, for organising security summits in the different geo-political zones of the country.
It expressed the hope that the outcome of the summits would lead to better policing of the country in the interest of the citizenry.
Present at the meeting were the Chairman of the Forum, Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr.. Udom Emmanuel; Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State; Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State.
Also present were Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State; Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State; Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State and Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State.
The Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Nkem Okeke represented the Governor.