- Region Backs FG’s Tax Reform, Demands Increased Oil Derivation
Governors of the South-South geo-political zone have unanimously elected the Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, as the Chairman of the South-South Governors’ Forum.
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Senator Diri was elected on Tuesday during the forum’s meeting at Government House in Yenagoa, the state capital.
Cross River Governor, Senator Bassey Otu, emerged as the Vice Chairman of the forum.
The Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, moved the motion nominating Diri, while his Rivers State counterpart, Siminalayi Fubara, seconded it.
In response, Diri stated that his election as chairman was a call to higher service and he pledged to serve the forum and the region diligently.
He emphasized that the role was not for him alone but a collective responsibility for all governors of the South-South to advance the region’s progress.
Diri affirmed that the forum would go beyond merely issuing communiques and would take action on critical issues affecting regional development.
His words: “Working together, we have all resolved that our region will not fail. We have seen other regions progress while our region remained quiet.”
In his opening address, Diri outlined the objectives of the forum, which include fostering greater synergy among the states and advancing regional investments in critical sectors such as security, agriculture, education, power, environment, tourism, and youth empowerment through sports, ICT, and entrepreneurship.
He stressed the importance of speaking with one voice, especially in light of the rapidly evolving landscape of the country and the world at large.
Diri indicated that by leveraging the strengths and resources of each member state, targeted initiatives could be designed and implemented to promote sustainable development and prosperity.
He identified South-South regional flight connections as a key area of collaboration to facilitate air travel within the zone.
In their remarks, Governors Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom), Senator Bassey Otu (Cross River), Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), and Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers) expressed appreciation to Diri for hosting the meeting and for setting a proactive agenda for the states to develop action plans and timelines on agreed-upon issues.
They noted that the meeting was long overdue and emphasized the need for cooperation among the states to build a vibrant economy independent of oil and gas revenue.
The governors also mentioned that speaking with a united voice would convey the appropriate message that the region deserves attention from the federal government.
According to the governors, previous meetings, particularly those under the auspices of the BRACED (Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo, and Delta) Commission, had not delivered the expected results. They expressed hope that under Diri’s leadership, a new direction would be charted for the region, urging forum members to set aside political affiliations to achieve their goals.
In a communique, the governors expressed their support for the ongoing tax reforms of the President Bola Tinubu administration.
The communique, read by the Bayelsa governor, urged the president to extend the proposed VAT sharing to other areas of derivation, such as oil and gas.
They argued that the law on oil derivation stipulates a minimum of 13 percent, and the federal government should also consider increasing the derivation amount allocated to the states within the region.
The forum commended the president for awarding and initiating the coastal road project but requested that it also commence from the Calabar axis, highlighting that this would enhance connectivity and stimulate economic development in the region.
While thanking President Tinubu for the ongoing work on the East-West Road, the governors stressed the importance of expediting the work to ensure its early completion.
Other areas where the South-South governors called for federal government intervention included extending the ongoing remediation efforts in Ogoniland to other polluted environments in the region.
The forum expressed its readiness to establish a comprehensive and structured security network to enhance security in the region.
A highlight of the meeting was the celebration of the birthday of Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who turned 50 on Tuesday.
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