Again, Southern Govs Meet, Open Grazing, Restructuring To Top Agenda

*Lagos is host on Monday as Sanwo-Olu pledges cordial
engagement

Seventeen governors of Nigeria’s southern states will on Monday
converge on Lagos for the second time this year to continue their
search for solution to the myriad of problems confronting the
country.

At the last meeting, hosted by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta
State and attended by 15 of the 17 southern governors, they arrived
at a 12-point resolution, which included the banning of open
grazing in all the states.

Sources said the meeting on Monday in Lagos would examine the
progress made regarding the Asaba Declaration, examine oppositions
to some of the demands and come up with a better strategy for
actualising the demands.

The source said: “The governors are working towards a better
Southern Nigeria within the Nigerian nation. This meeting is in
continuation of that agenda. It is a continuation of the meeting
held in Asaba. The southern governors will be looking at the gains
of the last meeting and come up with their next move.

“You know the southern governors agreed that the progress of the
nation requires that urgent and bold steps be taken towards the
restructuring of the Nigerian federation leading to the devolution
of power.

They want inclusive government at the federal level, state
police, a review of revenue allocation formula in favour of the
sub-national governments, and creation of some other institutions,
which will legitimately advance commitment to the practice of true
federalism. Strategies are needed to actualise all these. This is
why they are meeting again in Lagos.”

Another source close to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who is
chief host, said in the spirit of Lagos hospitality, the Lagos
governor has promised to provide a conducive environment for the 17
governors to brainstorm properly.
During the first meeting in Asaba, the southern governors resolved
to ban all forms of open grazing in the southern states of the
country.

Although, the governors came short of calling on President
Muhammadu Buhari to reshuffle heads of top agencies to reflect
federal character against the backdrop of the multi-ethnic and
multi-cultural nature of Nigeria, they urged the President to
ensure that the sensibilities of the people were respected and
reflected in federal appointments.

While affirming the commitment of the peoples of Southern
Nigeria to “the unity of the country on the basis of fairness,
equity and oneness,” the governors expressed grave concern about
the security challenge plaguing the country and charged the
President to act decisively to address the situation.

Specifically, the governors of the southern states called on
President Buhari to convoke a national conference to address the
insecurity and other challenges in order to restore the confidence
of the citizens in the Nigerian geo-political entity.

The communiqué said that the southern governors “observed that
incursion of armed herders, criminals and bandits into the southern
part of the country has presented a severe security challenge such
that citizens are not able to live their normal lives, including
pursuing various productive activities leading to a threat to food
supply and general security.”

But the federal government responded, saying the southern
governors’ proposed plan to enforce the ban on open grazing “is of
questionable legality.”

*Lagos is host on Monday as Sanwo-Olu pledges cordial
engagement

Seventeen governors of Nigeria’s southern states will on Monday
converge on Lagos for the second time this year to continue their
search for solution to the myriad of problems confronting the
country.

At the last meeting, hosted by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta
State and attended by 15 of the 17 southern governors, they arrived
at a 12-point resolution, which included the banning of open
grazing in all the states.

Sources said the meeting on Monday in Lagos would examine the
progress made regarding the Asaba Declaration, examine oppositions
to some of the demands and come up with a better strategy for
actualising the demands.

The source said: “The governors are working towards a better
Southern Nigeria within the Nigerian nation. This meeting is in
continuation of that agenda. It is a continuation of the meeting
held in Asaba. The southern governors will be looking at the gains
of the last meeting and come up with their next move.

“You know the southern governors agreed that the progress of the
nation requires that urgent and bold steps be taken towards the
restructuring of the Nigerian federation leading to the devolution
of power.

They want inclusive government at the federal level, state
police, a review of revenue allocation formula in favour of the
sub-national governments, and creation of some other institutions,
which will legitimately advance commitment to the practice of true
federalism. Strategies are needed to actualise all these. This is
why they are meeting again in Lagos.”

Another source close to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who is
chief host, said in the spirit of Lagos hospitality, the Lagos
governor has promised to provide a conducive environment for the 17
governors to brainstorm properly.
During the first meeting in Asaba, the southern governors resolved
to ban all forms of open grazing in the southern states of the
country.

Although, the governors came short of calling on President
Muhammadu Buhari to reshuffle heads of top agencies to reflect
federal character against the backdrop of the multi-ethnic and
multi-cultural nature of Nigeria, they urged the President to
ensure that the sensibilities of the people were respected and
reflected in federal appointments.

While affirming the commitment of the peoples of Southern
Nigeria to “the unity of the country on the basis of fairness,
equity and oneness,” the governors expressed grave concern about
the security challenge plaguing the country and charged the
President to act decisively to address the situation.

Specifically, the governors of the southern states called on
President Buhari to convoke a national conference to address the
insecurity and other challenges in order to restore the confidence
of the citizens in the Nigerian geo-political entity.

The communiqué said that the southern governors “observed that
incursion of armed herders, criminals and bandits into the southern
part of the country has presented a severe security challenge such
that citizens are not able to live their normal lives, including
pursuing various productive activities leading to a threat to food
supply and general security.”

But the federal government responded, saying the southern
governors’ proposed plan to enforce the ban on open grazing “is of
questionable legality.”