2023: Southern Governors Insist On Producing Buhari’s Successor

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News Across Nigeria Thursday, September 16th, 2021

……Urges States Yet To Pass Open Grazing Law to Do So.

(AFRICAN EXAMINER) – A meeting of the Southern governors forum held in Enugu, South East Nigeria on Thursday has ended with the governors reiterating their earlier position that the next president of Nigeria in 2023 must come from the area, even as they resolved that collection of VAT Falls within the powers of the state.

In a communique read to newsmen at the end of the meeting by its Chairman, and governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, the Governors reaffirmed their earlier commitment to structural and Fiscal federalism as resolved at the inaugural meeting of the forum on Tuesday, 11th May, 2021 at Asaba, Delta State.

The Governors emphasized the need for the southern state houses of Assembly as well as representation in the National Assembly to pursue its inclusion in the Nigerian Constitution through the ongoing constitutional amendment.

They expressed satisfaction with the rate at which the states in the southern Nigeria are enacting or amending the anti-open grazing law which align with the uniform template and aspiration of Southern Governors and encouraged the states that are yet to to enact the law to do so expeditiously.

The forum also encouraged full operationalization of already agreed regional security outfits , which would meet with, share intelligence and collaborate to ensure the security and safety of the region.

They expressed satisfaction with the handling of issues around the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) and ownership of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) by the larger Nigerian Governor’s Forum.

They said their position on the 2023 presidency is in line with politics of equity, justice and fairness.

African Examiner reports that present at the meeting were, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers, Gov. Emmanuel Udom of Akwa Ibom, Gov. Babajide Sanwolu of Lagos State and Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta.

Others included its Chairman, Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo, Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun, Douye Diri of Bayelsa, Dapo Abiodun of Ogun.

Governors of Ebonyi, Ekiti Oyo, Edo, Cross River, Imo and Abia States were represented by their deputies.