Robust support came for President Goodluck Jonathan from South-South and South-East governors, who yesterday, gave a strong endorsement of his leadership and charged him to confront terror wherever it may be found in the land.
The governors at a meeting in Asaba, Delta State, condemned the behaviour and antics of Nigerians and those they described as their “evil collaborators,” who according to them, have decided to assault the collective consciousness of the nation by encouraging terrorism in the country.
The meeting of the governors was across party lines. The only absentee was Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State.
Those present were Senator Liyel Imoke of Cross River; Peter Obi of Anambra; Chief Theodore Orji (Abia), Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Hon. Seriake Dickson, Bayelsa and Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, Delta.
Also present were Chief Martins Elechi (Ebonyi), Sullivan Chime (Enugu), Rochas Okorocha (Imo), while Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State was represented by his deputy, Engr. Tele Ikulu.
The governors said they “salute the resolute stance of Mr. President to confront terror wherever and whenever it occurs in Nigeria”.
Yesterday’s meeting hosted by Governor Uduaghan was also an opportunity to foster regional integration and is believed to dovetail into the quest for greater economic self-determination as has recently been championed by South-South governors through the BRACED commission.
Prior to yesterday’s meeting, political leaders from the South-East met in Enugu on Saturday where the governors of the region were believed to have articulated their positions ahead of yesterday’s meeting.
Yesterday’s resolutions were also believed to boost the quest of authorities in Delta State to use Asaba as a hub for regional integration between the two zones.
Further support also came the way of the president in a meeting of the South-South caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which was going on in Asaba at press time, yesterday.
Present at the meeting were political office holders at national and state levels, including senators and members of the House of Representatives, zonal and national officers of the party and governors from the South-South geopolitical zone.
The meeting Vanguard learnt, was expected to call on party members to rally round the president and the party in the light of increasing dissension within and outside the party. Before the meeting commenced last night, top officials from the zone called for unity and in the words of one attendee, “we are rallying round to ensure that we are one in word and action because if we are not, we would not be able to confront the attacks that would soon start coming.”
The meeting was also expected to give strong support for the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB and make a declaration on the ongoing constitution review in the National Assembly, especially as it concerns the position of local governments in the federation and within the state.
The communiqué
The communiqué issued on the meeting of South-South and South-East governors, jointly read by Governors Imoke and Obi, said:
*The South-South and South-East Governors commend His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, for his focused leadership and bold, result-yielding Transformation Agenda, which deserves the unwavering support of all Nigerians and friends of Nigeria alike, as the laudable achievements of the administration in strengthening our democracy, stabilising the polity, growing the economy and improving the quality of life of all citizens continue to unfold.
*The South-South and South-East Governors agreed on economic and political integration of the old Eastern and Midwest regions now the South-South and South-East. The governors pledged to strengthen cooperation across the board with particular focus on development of infrastructure linking the region particularly federal roads.
*The Governors also called on the Federal Government to rehabilitate all rail lines linking the States in the region as well as embark on the construction of railway links between all the states. The Governors also pledged to work together to ensure the development of all the ports in the region, including the Abia Dry Port and called on the Nigeria Ports Authority to facilitate the achievement of this objective.
*The Governors commend Mr. President for the extensive ongoing rehabilitation/modernisation of the airports across the country particularly those in our regions. The Governors also called on Mr. President to establish cargo airports, including Owerri and additional deep-sea ports in the regions including Ibaka, Escravos, Agge and also calls for the dredging of the Calabar Port.
*The Governors agreed to work to revive agro-allied industries particularly in palm and rubber plantations to exploit the comparative advantage in agriculture in both regions.
*The Governors of the South-South and the South-East states called on the Federal Government to facilitate the full implementation of the Free Trade Zones status amongst the states of the region.
Security and State of the Nation
*The South-South and South-East governors plead with all Nigerians to adopt dialogue and peaceful means to resolve issues affecting our country. The governors also agreed to work together and ensure regional cooperation in stemming the spate of kidnapping, arson, pipeline vandalisation as well as other nefarious activities in the regions to secure the regions and ensure that they remain conducive environment for investments.
*The meeting was concerned at the condemnable behaviour and antics of some Nigerians and their evil collaborators in assaulting the collective psyche of the nation, by waging various acts of terrorism; the South-South and South-East Governors not only commiserate with the President, the Governments of all affected areas, the victims, their families and majority of peace-loving Nigerians, but salute the resolute stance of Mr. President to confront terror wherever and whenever it occurs in Nigeria, while appealing to all law-abiding citizens to sincerely join hands with Governments to stamp out these and other evils from our society.”
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