Over economic and security concerns plaguing the region, the leaders of the South-South geopolitical zone met on Tuesday in Yenagoa, the state capital.
In attendance at the meeting were Governors Bassey Otu (Cross River), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers), Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom) and the host governor Duoye Diri (Bayelsa).
However, Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, was noticeably absent. The governor did not send his deputy, Dennis Idahosa, to represent him at the meeting that seeks to foster regional development and cooperation.
The session, hosted by Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State, took place at the Governor’s Conference Room, Government House, Yenagoa.
In his opening address, Governor Diri underscored the strategic importance of the gathering, emphasizing the need for greater synergy among the six South-South states.
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He highlighted critical areas for collaboration, including security, agriculture, education, power, environment, tourism, and youth empowerment through sports, ICT, and entrepreneurship.
The governor remarked that “the rapidly changing landscape of our country and the world as a whole makes clear and urgent a need for enhanced regional collaboration and development.”
Our ability to collaborate toward a common goal is closely related to our shared progress and prosperity.
The region’s significant challenges were addressed by Governor Diri without a second thought.
Despite being Nigeria’s economic backbone, he lamented the negative effects of oil exploration and the region’s poor returns.
“Everywhere we turn, it seems that the proverbial curse of oil wealth has held us hostage”, he observed.
Calling for decisive action, Governor Diri urged his fellow governors to leverage the BRACED Commission, a think-tank established in 1999 to facilitate collective development in the South-South region.
He stressed the need to move beyond mere communiqués and memoranda.
He remarked that it was time to “transform words into actions and bring our shared goals into tangible outcomes.”
He emphasized the importance of accelerating regional investment and development by focusing on pressing areas with the greatest potential for job creation and socio-economic growth.
The governor’s recommendations for a regional flight connection and the construction of a regional railroad line to ease transportation were particularly interesting.
He also called for the speedy completion of the East-West Road, a critical artery connecting all South-South states.
Addressing regional security concerns, Governor Diri highlighted recent incidents in Okuoma, Okoloba, and Igbomotoru, stressing the need for region-specific security measures. “By pooling together our collective wisdom, experiences, and resources, we can devise strategies to prevent and mitigate future security threats”, he stated, underscoring the role of governors as chief security officers.
The governor also emphasized the value of cooperating with other regions and the federal government. He urged state governments to collaborate more closely with federal interventionist organizations, including the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), to achieve local goals.
In conclusion, Governor Diri expressed gratitude to the attending governors and stakeholders for their dedication to the region’s development.
Source: Channels TV
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