GOVERNORS of the South-South and South-East geopolitical zones have called on the Federal Government to encourage investors in the oil and gas industry to operate from the regions and also invest in the areas.
The governors, who made this called in a communique at the end of the second meeting of the South-East/South-South Governors Forum at the Government House, Port Harcourt on Sunday, explained that they had agreed to continue to promote the unity of the country.
The communique signed by the Interim Chairman of the Forum, who is also the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Udom Emmanuel, on behalf of his colleagues, stated that the forum resolved, “To pursue inter-regional cooperation and integration for the common good of the regions’ people;
“To encourage the Federal Government to encourage investors in the oil and gas industry to operate within the regions and also make the investments in the sector in the regions;
“To work together politically, align and re-align as a people that share common heritage, culture and affinity; and to articulate and advocate for issues affecting the wellbeing of the regions though the issues may not necessarily materialise immediately, but for the benefits of future generations.”
The governors also agreed “to continue to subscribe our faith to the destiny and greatness of Nigeria and call upon Nigerians to put their hands on the plough and rise to claim our rightful place in the comity of nations;
“To condemn hate speech in national discourse whether in individual communication, or utterances of political actors or parties; to urge security agencies to set up joint border patrols and develop more proactive strategies in combating crime and criminality; and to urge 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.”
They further resolved to pursue inter-regional cooperation and integration for the common good of the regions’ people, even as they condemned hate in national discourse, whether in individual communication or utterances of political actors or parties.
Expressing regret over the deplorable state of federal roads in the two regions, the forum added that none of the airports and seaports located in the zones was “reasonably” functional.
The governors observed that neither of the two regions (South-South and South-East) were linked by any rail services, maintaining that the federal presence in the regions was minimal and only noticeable in the presence of policemen.
The meeting, which was chaired by the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel, had in attendance seven governors and for deputy governors.
Some of the governors present at the meeting were Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike of Rivers State, Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State.
Others are Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, and his counterpart from Imo State and host of the next meeting, Owelle Rochas Okorocha State.
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.
The forum will reconvene in Owerri, Imo State on Sunday, the 8th of October, 2017
To encourage the Federal Government to encourage investors in the oil and gas industry to operate within the regions and also make the investments in the sector in the regions;
“To work together politically, align and re-align as a people that share common heritage, culture and affinity; and to articulate and advocate for issues affecting the wellbeing of the regions though the issues may not necessarily materialise immediately, but for the benefits of future generations.”
The governors also agreed “to continue to subscribe our faith to the destiny and greatness of Nigeria and call upon Nigerians to put their hands on the plough and rise to claim our rightful place in the comity of nations;
“To condemn hate speech in national discourse whether in individual communication, or utterances of political actors or parties; to urge security agencies to set up joint border patrols and develop more proactive strategies in combating crime and criminality; and to urge 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.”
They further resolved to pursue inter-regional cooperation and integration for the common good of the regions’ people, even as they condemned hate in national discourse, whether in individual communication or utterances of political actors or parties.
Expressing regret over the deplorable state of federal roads in the two regions, the forum added that none of the airports and seaports located in the zones was “reasonably” functional.
The governors observed that neither of the two regions (South-South and South-East) were linked by any rail services, maintaining that the federal presence in the regions was minimal and only noticeable in the presence of policemen.
The meeting, which was chaired by the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel, had in attendance seven governors and for deputy governors.
Some of the governors present at the meeting were Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike of Rivers State, Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State.
Others are Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, and his counterpart from Imo State and host of the next meeting, Owelle Rochas Okorocha State.
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.
The forum will reconvene in Owerri, Imo State on Sunday, the 8th of October, 2017
