Governors of Southern Nigeria rose from a joint meeting on Monday with a communique portion indicating their angers with the way the Federal Government is helping tackle insecurity when the raid and arrest affect criminals from their own side of the country.
They said in one of the resolutions that “if for any reason security institutions need to undertake an operation in any State, the Chief Security Officer of the State must be duly informed”, a point of order that has unsettled many citizens considering how the governors have been an impediment to developmental effort of the Federal Government towards ensuring autonomy for Local Government Administration for general security, peace and development.
It will recalled that in Oyo State where Governor Seyi Makinde joined a BUHARI-MUST-GO protest during the last June 12 Democracy Day in Ibadan, a joint security operatives raid was conducted in the home of Yoruba tribalist fighter, Sunday Adeyemo a.k.a. Sunday Igboho, following an intelligence that he was stockpiling weapons to cause chaos within the South West region over claim of secession.
Following the raid, a cache of weapons including several AK-47 were recovered and 13 persons, disarmed after they launched gun attacks on the operatives in attempt to stop them from gaining entry into the Igboho compound, were arrested and paraded.
To the chagrin of many, the governors, who swore to defend the Constitution and knowing the position of the law on Igboho’s violent secessionist activities, made the lawful security raid and arrest at his home a matter of importance during the meeting and still went ahead to issue a section of their communique based on that.
By implication, their sadness over the raid was an expressed reservation about the anti-insecurity fight thereby vindicating people, who said the governors are the problem and cause of insecurity that Nigeria suffers as, according to them, the state leaders work in opposite direction to the President in his quest to ending insecurity in all parts of the country.
This was coincidental with Lagos State House of Assembly also passing a law making it unlawful for the security agencies to parade arrested suspects, although the governors will be required to tell how that law, which may be an infringement on the constitutional responsibility of the Federal Government on providing security for all, will work.
Among the resolutions at Monday’s meeting was also the setting of September 21, 2021, as deadline for the promulgation of anti-open grazing law among its member states.
The closed-door meeting, which held in Lagos House Alausa, also agreed that Nigeria’s next President should emerge from the southern part of the country.
Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum and Governor of Ondo State, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), who addressed journalists shortly after the meeting, however gave one take home message about their commitment to the unity of Nigeria on the pillars of equity, fairness, justice, progress and peaceful co-existence between and amongst its people.
Read full text of communique below:
COMMUNIQUÉ ISSUED AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE MEETING OF THE GOVERNORS OF SOUTHERN NIGERIA AT THE LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT HOUSE, IKEJA, LAGOS STATE, ON MONDAY, 5TH JULY, 2021 NIGERIA.
The Southern Governors Forum at the end of the meeting held on Monday, 5th July, 2021 reviewed the situation in the Country and focused on the current security situation, constitutional amendment, Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).
Rising from the meeting, the Forum agreed on the following:
1. Re-affirmed their commitment to the unity of Nigeria on the pillars of equity, fairness, justice, progress and peaceful co-existence between and amongst its people.
2. The Forum reiterates its commitment to the politics of equity, fairness and unanimously agrees that the presidency of Nigeria be rotated between Southern and Northern Nigeria and resolved that the next president of Nigeria should emerge from the Southern Region.
3. Security
a. The Forum reviewed the security situation in the country and commends security operatives for their relentless efforts in restoring security and safety and commiserates with families and loved ones of those who have fallen in the line of duty;
b. Re-emphasised the need for State Police;
c. Resolved that if for any reason security institutions need to undertake an operation in any State, the Chief Security Officer of the State must be duly informed;
d. the forum frowns at selective criminal administration of Justice and resolved that arrests should be made within the ambit of the Law and fundamental human rights;
e. Set a timeline of Wednesday, 1st September, 2021 for the promulgation of the anti open grazing law in all member States; and
f. Resolved that Funds deducted from the Federation Account for the Nigeria Police Security Trust Fund should be distributed among the States and Federal Government to combat security challenges.
4. Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) Law:
i. The Forum commends the National Assembly for the progress made in the passage of the PIB;
ii. the Forum rejects the proposed 3% and support the 5% share of the oil revenue to the host community as recommended by the House of Representatives;
iii. the forum also rejects the proposed 30% share of profit for the exploration of oil and gas in the basins;
iv. However, the forum rejects the ownership structure of the proposed Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC). The Forum disagrees that the company be vested in the Federal Ministry of Finance but should be held in trust by Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) since all tiers of Government have stakes in that vehicle.
5. In order to consolidate our democracy and strengthen the Electoral process, the Southern Governors’ Forum reject the removal of the Electronic transmission of the election result from the electoral act; and also rejects the confirmation of exclusive jurisdiction in pre-election matters on the Federal High Court.
6. The Forum unanimously chose Lagos State as its permanent secretariat and appreciated the Governor of Lagos State for the wonderful hosting of this meeting while commending him for his good work in the state.
Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu SAN
Governor, Ondo State and Chairman, Southern Governors’ Forum
