₦airaland Forum

In attendance at the meeting were Governors Bassey Otu (Cross River), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers), Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom) and the host governor Duoye Diri (Bayelsa).

However, Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, was noticeably absent. The governor did not send his deputy, Dennis Idahosa, to represent him at the meeting that seeks to foster regional development and cooperation.

The session, hosted by Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State, took place at the Governor’s Conference Room, Government House, Yenagoa.

In his opening address, Governor Diri underscored the strategic importance of the gathering, emphasizing the need for greater synergy among the six South-South states.

He highlighted critical areas for collaboration, including security, agriculture, education, power, environment, tourism, and youth empowerment through sports, ICT, and entrepreneurship.

“The swiftly changing landscape of our country and the world at large highlights the clear and urgent need for enhanced regional collaboration and development,” the governor noted.

“Our shared progress and prosperity are tightly connected to our capacity to work together toward a common aim.”

Governor Diri did not shy away from addressing the significant challenges facing the region.

He lamented the adverse effects of oil exploration and the inadequate returns for the region despite being Nigeria’s economic backbone.

“Everywhere we turn, it seems that the proverbial curse of oil wealth has held us hostage,” he observed.

Calling for decisive action, Governor Diri urged his fellow governors to leverage the BRACED Commission, a think-tank established in 1999 to facilitate collective development in the South-South region.

He stressed the need to move beyond mere communiqués and memoranda.

“It is time to turn words into action and transform our shared aspirations into tangible results,” he asserted.

He emphasized the necessity of catalysing regional investment and development by focusing on key sectors with immense potential for job creation and socio-economic growth.

Of particular interest to the governor were proposals for a regional flight connection and the establishment of a regional railway line to ease transportation.

He also called for the speedy completion of the East-West Road, a critical artery connecting all South-South states.

Addressing regional security concerns, Governor Diri highlighted recent incidents in Okuoma, Okoloba, and Igbomotoru, stressing the need for region-specific security measures. “By pooling together our collective wisdom, experiences, and resources, we can devise strategies to prevent and mitigate future security threats,” he stated, underscoring the role of governors as chief security officers.

The governor also emphasized the importance of cooperation with the federal government and other regions. He called for federal interventionist agencies such as the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to work more closely with state governments to align with local priorities.

In conclusion, Governor Diri expressed gratitude to the attending governors and stakeholders for their dedication to the region’s development.

“May this meeting be a turning point in our collective journey towards realizing our true potential. Together, let us rise above our challenges, seize our opportunities, and fashion a brighter future for our region,” he declared.

Leobankx:
Governors of the South-South geopolitical zone on Tuesday met in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital over economic and security issues plaguing the region.


https://www.channelstv.com/2025/01/28/okpebholo-absent-as-south-south-govs-meet-in-bayelsa/

Queengee:
Edo na southwest, those people have nothing in common with south South in characters and attitudes

PriceActionZ:
Any meeting they sew uniform and aso ebi is a jamboree and waste of tax payers money. Nothing good can come out of it.

ehikwe22:
How can Edo be South West when most parts of Delta, some parts of Rivers and Bayelsa have Edo heritage? Apart from Ijaw, Edoid groups are the majority. Even the Yoruboid and Igboid groups in Delta and Rivers have connections with Edo.

JAWBONE:
Okpebholo, the Olodo APC governor is a Governor with one leg in office.

With all the evidence put forward against his sham election, he should be out of office by now.

But he has already promised T-pain 2027 Edo Votes.
So we are waiting to see the magic T-pain will do for him together with Mrs Kekere.

Also Okpebholo has had a strategic meeting with Mc Oluomo to teach Edo State how to Agberolize the whole election tribunal

Vadese1:
Fear of communicating with English has made the governor not to attend

Myrepublic:
You want him to go and disgrace himself Abi?

He looks like a terrible introvert,but I still have doubt on that though,cux introverts are very intelligent personalities. Only God knows where Edo Govanon belong

Queengee:
Edo na southwest, those people have nothing in common with south South in characters and attitudes

Abagworo:
The only place in Rivers with Edoid connection is Ngene and Degema and that's Urhobo connection not Edo State. Edo is supposed to be in South-south since the ethnic groups are numerous and minority and South-south was created for minorities in West and East free from Igbo and Yoruba.

Leobankx:
Governors of the South-South geopolitical zone on Tuesday met in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital over economic and security issues plaguing the region.


https://www.channelstv.com/2025/01/28/okpebholo-absent-as-south-south-govs-meet-in-bayelsa/

RoxyBrownAutos:
The Edo state governor was absent because he went to abuja for the election tribunal case.The court moved their sitting from benin to abuja to avoid escalation of problems. To him,the court is important than the south south governors forum.