₦airaland Forum

As we prepare to host the Southern Governors’ Forum meeting today, we were pleased to receive some of the distinguished attendees, particularly traditional rulers and respected leaders from across the southern region. Their visit offered us the opportunity to deepen ongoing engagements and align our shared expectations ahead of the gathering.

We value the presence of our royal fathers and regional leaders, whose wisdom and guidance continue to enrich our processes. As host, we remain committed to creating an atmosphere that encourages honest dialogue and fosters stronger collaboration among all stakeholders as we work together for the peace, stability, and development of our region and country by extension.

#BuildingOurFutureTogether #DapoAbiodun #OgunState

naptu2:
The first meeting of the southern governors in the 4th Republic was held in Lagos in October 2000. The Southern Governors Summit was used to coordinate the fight for resource control and more importantly, the fight against the onshore/offshore dichotomy. It was also used to demand for devolution of powers (state police, etc.).

Offshore/Onshore Dichotomy.

The 1999 constitution stated that a percentage of mineral revenue that was derived from a state should be given to that state. It also stated that the National Assembly should meet to determine what the percentage would be, but it must not be less than 13%.

The Federal Government led by President Olusegun Obasanjo paid the states 13% of the revenue derived from minerals in their states. This was because the National Assembly did not set any percentage, so the Federal Government simply used the percentage that was mentioned in the constitution.

However, there was a problem.

The Federal Government stated that any mineral (that is, crude oil) that was found in the ocean, off the continental shelf of a state, belonged to the Federal Government and it would not pay any derivation funds to any state for it.

The states argued that they must have a share of the revenue from such minerals, regardless of the fact that they are in the ocean.

The battle was waged in the National Assembly and in the courts. State governments sued the Federal Government. The state governors were meeting to coordinate their strategy, but then there was a division. A few northern state governments took the side of the Federal Government and so the Southern governors then decided to coordinate their strategy through the Southern Governors Forum.

Politics crept in ahead of the 2007 elections and the Southern Governors Forum did not meet between 2005 and 2017. Their wives continued to hold meetings, but the Southern Governors Forum did not meet.

Until recently, the host governor usually acted as chairman and spokesman of the forum.


List of Southern Governors Forum meetings

Southern Governors Forum meeting, Lagos, October 2000.
https://allafrica.com/stories/200010100252.html


Southern Governors Forum meeting, Enugu, January 2001.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200101150174.html

Conclave of Governors (report of the Southern Governors Summit in Enugu)
https://allafrica.com/stories/200101150096.html

Southern Governors Forum meeting, Benin, March 2001.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200103190380.html

Southern Governors Forum meeting, Ibadan, September 2001.
https://allafrica.com/stories/200109110026.html

Southern Governors Forum meeting, Owerri, November 2001.
https://allafrica.com/stories/200111140102.html

Southern Governors Forum meeting, Port Harcourt, March 2002
https://allafrica.com/stories/200203110194.html

7th Southern Governors Forum meeting, Akure, July 2002.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200207120292.html

Southern Governors Forum meeting, February 2004
http://allafrica.com/stories/200402060556.html

Southern Governors Forum meeting, Benin, December 2004
https://allafrica.com/stories/200412060193.html

Nigeria: Southern Govs. Summit: Igbinedion Carpets FG Over Anambra Crisis
https://allafrica.com/stories/200412060258.html

Nigeria: Deductions: Southern Govs Lash FG
https://allafrica.com/stories/200412060349.html

Southern Governors Forum meeting, Lagos, February 2005
https://allafrica.com/stories/200503010200.html

Udenwa makes case for southern governors forum. March 2005.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200503020368.html


Southern Governors Forum To Meet In Lagos 12 Years After Last Meeting (Lagos, 2017)
https://www.nairaland.com/4130625/southern-governors-forum-meet-lagos


Southern Governors Forum meeting, Asaba, May 2021
https://www.nairaland.com/6548268/insecurity-southern-governors-meet-asaba

Southern Governors Forum meeting, Lagos, July 2021
https://www.nairaland.com/6634966/southern-governors-meet-lagos-today


Resolutions Of The June 2024 Meeting Of The Southern Governors Forum in Abeokuta
https://www.nairaland.com/8135500/resolutions-june-2024-meeting-southern

Nigeria: Lagos State Governor Justifies Meeting of Southern Governors

Panafrican News Agency (Dakar)
By Segun Adeyemi

10 OCTOBER 2000


Lagos, Nigeria — Host Lagos Governor Bola Tinubu has justified Tuesday's maiden meeting of governors of the 17 states in southern Nigeria, saying such a gathering was necessary to strengthen the country's fledgling democracy.

In an apparent reference to criticism of such gathering as sectional and divisive, he said it should actually be encouraged and supported.

thesolutions:
There is nothing southern for now as long as there is war between the major indigenous people in the south. I mean the Igbos and the Yoruba.

A united south is nearly impossible in my opinion. It will take a miracle performed by men for that to happen. But men chooses to win than to save. Expect no miracle.

thesolutions:
There is nothing southern for now as long as there is war between the major indigenous people in the south. I mean the Igbos and the Yoruba.

A united south is nearly impossible in my opinion. It will take a miracle performed by men for that to happen. But men chooses to win than to save. Expect no miracle.

A divided north will bring everyone together for discussion. Unfortunately, the north is comfortable. They can instigate a hungry northerner to blame his hunger on the southerner without questioning how.

The genocide nearly created that atmosphere for northerners to question their leaders but that is gradually fading away. Those shouting Gumi doesn't speak for me and Islam are now trying to find reason to explain why he could be right.

Is hope lost?
Definitely not. Living is hoping.

thesolutions:
There is nothing southern for now as long as there is war between the major indigenous people in the south. I mean the Igbos and the Yoruba.

A united south is nearly impossible in my opinion. It will take a miracle performed by men for that to happen. But men chooses to win than to save. Expect no miracle.

A divided north will bring everyone together for discussion. Unfortunately, the north is comfortable. They can instigate a hungry northerner to blame his hunger on the southerner without questioning how.

The genocide nearly created that atmosphere for northerners to question their leaders but that is gradually fading away. Those shouting Gumi doesn't speak for me and Islam are now trying to find reason to explain why he could be right.

Is hope lost?
Definitely not. Living is hoping.

2mch:
Why are you panicking? Are you affiliated with the terrorists?

thesolutions:
There is nothing southern for now as long as there is war between the major indigenous people in the south. I mean the Igbos and the Yoruba.

A united south is nearly impossible in my opinion. It will take a miracle performed by men for that to happen. But men chooses to win than to save. Expect no miracle.

A divided north will bring everyone together for discussion. Unfortunately, the north is comfortable. They can instigate a hungry northerner to blame his hunger on the southerner without questioning how.

The genocide nearly created that atmosphere for northerners to question their leaders but that is gradually fading away. Those shouting Gumi doesn't speak for me and Islam are now trying to find reason to explain why he could be right.

Is hope lost?
Definitely not. Living is hoping.

ZombieTAMER:
Currently there should be nothing like southern forum

The president said he's from South but Acts like a Northerner, pampering bandits and paying terrorists, what's the meaning of a peace deal..

enforce open grazing
create state police
that's what a southern president should have done long ago

Nefort:
The "war" only exists online. Igbos and Yorubas will meet themselves in public and comport themselves.

chiagozien:
Nothing like southern governors.



South West Governors are not Southern

richiemcgold:
War? 🤥🤥 Where is the war? Life does not begin or end on social media oga. Igbos and Yorubas are doing business together out there and making money together. Maybe na only you dey fight the war.

ZombieTAMER:
Currently there should be nothing like southern forum

The president said he's from South but Acts like a Northerner, pampering bandits and paying terrorists, what's the meaning of a peace deal..

enforce open grazing
create state police
that's what a southern president should have done long ago

Nefort:
The "war" only exists online. Igbos and Yorubas will meet themselves in public and comport themselves.

Peliman:
Anything that has to do with camera and party leave am for Dapo but roads no concern him the worst governor Ogun State ever had.