About three years after their last meeting in Asaba, Delta State, the Southern Governors Forum (SGF) met again recently in Abeokuta, Ogun State. Beyond wearing ceremonial uniform, the governors discussed a number of serious issues that deserve some scrutiny.
One of their major resolutions is to continue to advocate for the creation of state police. This, they said, was based on the success of community-based regional security outfits that had significantly helped intelligence gathering. The governors are correct because there is no one level of policing in a federal system like ours. In the United States of America, for instance, there is federal police, state police, county police and so on.
The major fear of some people is that state police may be prone to certain abuses. Some state governors, they argue, may use it to attack their political opponents. This should be discountenanced because even the central police have been seriously abused as well. What is important is to put in place some mechanisms to checkmate any abuse that may occur.
On the economic front, the governors commended President Bola Tinubu for his “laudable economic recovery reforms and policies” and the “implementation of the Renewed Hope Agenda (RHA).” They should go beyond commendation and look for ways to collaborate with the Federal Government to bring solutions to the current hardship ravaging the country.
It is, therefore, gladdening that they are considering commissioning a regional multimodal transport master plan that will prioritize “connectivity by rail, road, air and water to enhance regional connectivity and facilitate the interstate and intra-region ease of doing business.” Their resolve to pursue intra-region trade, partnerships, and investment facilitation and promotion through the Southern States Development Agenda (SSDA) should be pursued with vigour.
With regard to the problem of inadequate power supply in the region, the governors harped on the need to take advantage of the recent constitutional amendment that allows states to regulate, generate, transmit and distribute electricity to their people. This is laudable. But it is extremely important that they walk their talk this time.
Their resolve to be more aggressive and intentional about food security also deserves commendation. Hunger and food insecurity had led to violent revolutions in some parts of the world. We should not allow such to happen in Nigeria. The level of hardship in the country demands that governments at all levels must join hands to seek solutions to the problem. The SGF is in a position to suggest practical ways of solving the problem to the Federal Government. Their decision to intensify their agricultural revolution initiatives to achieve food sufficiency, self-reliance and employment generation, will go a long way in solving the problem.
We agree with the governors on the issue of fiscal federalism and devolution of powers. Solid mineral exploration and exploitation, which are still on the exclusive list of the constitution, should be looked into. Each state should control the resources on its territory and make returns to the Federal Government. That is how true federalism works. It is probable that if this is done, the lingering issue of minimum wage for workers will be a thing of the past as each state would be allowed to negotiate its minimum wage depending on its capacity.
Nevertheless, for the governors to achieve their noble aims, they must first eschew selfish tendencies and ensure unity of purpose among members of the Forum. Recall that in their last meeting in Asaba in 2021, the southern governors, in what they termed ‘Asaba Declaration’, agreed to support and ensure the emergence of a southerner as the President of Nigeria. It so happened that not all of them eventually supported this declaration. The then host governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, later became the running mate to a northerner and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar. Thus, it is curious that the governors, in their communique after their Abeokuta meeting, thanked all member governors for their support and commitment to the ‘Asaba Declaration’.
It is pertinent to note that some of the governors have emasculated the local governments in their states. It will be good if they all resolve to conduct elections and discard the idea of caretaker committee chairmen in these local government areas. It is instructive that the Federal Government is already in court with the 36 state governors over this issue. Whichever way the case goes, it is important that the governors resolve to uphold the constitution and democratic principles always.
They should meet regularly to enable them to engage in peer review where they share knowledge, compare notes and discuss more issues of development. Their resolve to hold quarterly meetings that will be rotated among the member states is in order. It will help to cement southern unity.
We congratulate Governors Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State and Charles Soludo of Anambra State on their emergence as Chairman and Vice Chairman of the SGF respectively. Though the task ahead of them is enormous, they are equal to it.