FALLOWING incredibly for three years, the Southern Governors Forum (SGF) has seen a re-awakening, picking a new leadership to strategically plough the resources-rich southern geopolitical environment for a more progressive social and economic advancement. The new leadership is headed by Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State as chairman and Prof. Chukwumah Soludo, governor of Anambra State as vice-chairman.
Both were elected by 16 out of the 17 governors from the region at a meeting of the group in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. The Rivers State governor was clearly absent most probably on account of the political turmoil in the state. The meeting lasted five hours, according to reports. Governor Abiodun’s election follows the death of the former chairman of the Forum, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State who died some months ago.
Founded in year 2000, the SGF was created as a strategy to facilitate the evolution of a powerful southern regional body regardless of diverse political, religious, cultural and ethnic orientation of the constituents. As widely reported, the SGF has as its goals fruitful engagement with the federal government on such matters as resource control, onshore/off shore dichotomy, and to ensure that the member states occupy their rightful places in national affairs among others.
But as had been proven over time, the forum had been encumbered by discordant sub-regional voices, mutual suspicion, lack of cohesion and consistency, and other serious distractions, to strongly address issues affecting the region. This scenario partly accounts for the lingering challenge of insecurity and open grazing, for instance. To say the least, the regional body has been rather too weak to be useful to its constituents.
Yet the region, rich in natural and human resources, beckons the SGF to explore its abundant resources for the benefit of not just Southerners but the entire country. Huge opportunities wait to be tapped in the area stretching from Calabar to Lagos. They include the vast arable land for agriculture: crop farming, fish farming and livestock farming including ranching. These would present further opportunities for investment in agro-allied business. Aside oil and gas massively being harvested, the region is loaded with minerals waiting to be exploited.
To further take advantage of the region’s endowments, the entire area must be opened with solid infrastructure like inter and intra-regional roads to enhance transportation. The region needs good rail network and waterways as well. Air transportation to link the capital cities of the 17 states and major cities would enhance economic activities in the region. These are socioeconomic issues the governments of the axis could on their own or jointly execute; or even partner with the private sector players to accomplish.As pointed out elsewhere, which we subscribe to, the SGF should as a body reach a consensus on how to decisively eradicate the following questions hindering the development of the region: the ravaging insecurity, enforcing the ban on open grazing, lack of cohesion and consistency regarding meetings and decisions, and mutual suspicions. Moreover, the constituent states of the SGF should also take a critical look at the issues of accountability, transparency in the management of state resources and mismanagement of funds as they impact on development among them.
We note with gratification that the Abeokuta meeting of the SGF is already yielding some positive fruits as captured in their resolutions, one of which is to set up Southern States Development Agency (SSDA). The role of the proposed organ is to foster trade and investment, economic prosperity, social harmony, sustainable growth and development, and food security in Southern Nigeria. In addition, the SGF plans to generate 90,000mw of electricity to serve the region. It urged member-states to take advantage of the new electricity law, which has decentralized electricity management.
Sports festivals, cultural fiestas and trade fairs are also opportunities the SGF could explore to enhance social and economic harmony of the region. These could indeed promote a healthy competition among the 17 states. The SGF has in fact been re-awakened; it’s our prayer that the regional body grows stronger and is able to practically actualize an ambitious agenda to transform Southern Nigeria.
