Overcoming insecurity across the southern part of Nigeria, secessionist agitations and issues relating to restructuring will likely dominate deliberations of the 17 Governors of the region as they converge in Lagos the nation’s industrial and economic nerve centre.
Already the Lagos State Government has put the necessary machinery in place for a successful meeting with Governor BabajideSanwo-Oluthe chief host taking charge of preparations.
Daily Champion correspondent gathered thatsecurity implications of recent re-arrest and extradition of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Maxi Nnamdi Kanu as well as the manhunt for Sunday Igboho, the proponent of the Yoruba Nation agitation by Department of State Services, DSS will also be discussed by the governors.
Chief Press Secretary to Lagos State Governor, Mr. GboyegaAkosile yesterday confirmed the meeting of Southern Governors in the Centre of Excellence.
The parley is a follow up to the Tuesday 11th May 2021 meeting in Delta State now known as Asaba Declaration, in which the Southern Governors demanded an end to open grazing in the region among other resolutions.
The last meeting also focused on recent happenings in the polity and security challenges in the country and particularly in their respective states.
However, it was learnt that all 17 governors would be in attendance at today’s meeting scheduled to hold at the State House, Alausa, Ikeja.
The State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr GbengaOmotoso, had earlier confirmed that the parley would discuss issues relating to insecurity, true federalism, Open Grazing, State Police, restructuring, food security, among others.
Also, it was learnt that the meeting is expected to discuss the gains of the last meeting and consolidating on them.
It would be recalled that the governors, at the last meeting which was hosted by Governor IfeanyiOkowa of Delta State and attended by 15 of the 17 Southern governors, arrived at a 12-point resolution which included the banning of Open Grazing of cattle in all the states.
They also resolved that the progress of Nigeria required that urgent and fundamental steps be taken to restructure the Federation leading to the evolution of State Police, even as they advocated the review of revenue allocation formula in favour of the sub-national governments as well as the creation of other institutions which legitimately advance commitment to the practice of true federalism.
It would be recalled that the last meeting brought security threat where Fulanis Jihadists of Usman Dan Fodio heritage, threatened to cause severe consequences in Asaba and Agbor if the governor failed to withdraw his stand on open grazing while Niger Delta militants vowed to return fire for fire.
