Governors of South-South and South East states have condemned in strong terms the various acts of terrorism and their sponsors in parts of the country.

The Governors who gave this condemnation today [12-05-13] in a communiqué after a closed door meeting in Asaba condemned the abominable behaviours and antics of some Nigerians and their evil collaborators in assaulting the collective psyche of the nation and commiserated with the president, governments, and victims and their families of this evil act.They appealed to all Nigerians to be cooperate with government to stamp out these evil acts.

In their words “The meeting was concerned at the condemnable behaviour and antics of some Nigerians and their evil collaborators in assaulting the collective psyche of the nation, by waging various acts of terrorism, the South-South and South East Governors commiserate with President, the governments of all affected areas, the victims, their families and majority of peace-loving Nigerians,” the Governors said, adding that it was important for all law-abiding citizens to join hands with governments at all levels to stamp out terrorism and other evils from the society.”

Briefing the press after the meeting which lasted for about four hours, the Chairman of South-South Governors’ Forum, Governor Liyel Imoke and his counterpart in the South-East Zone; Mr Peter Obi flanked by all the Governors that attended the meeting said, they salutes “the resolute stance of Mr President to confront terror wherever and whenever it occurs in Nigeria,” adding they also commended the President “for his focused leadership and bold, result-yielding transformation agenda, which deserves the unwavering support of all Nigerians and friends of Nigerians alike.”

The Governors emphasised that the laudable achievements of the President in the areas of strengthening democracy, stabilising the polity, growing the economy and improving the quality of life of all citizens continues to unfold.

“The South-South and South-East governors plead with all Nigerians to adopt dialogue and peaceful means to resolve issues affecting the country,” the Governors resolved, adding, “the governors also agreed to work together and ensure regional cooperation in stemming the spate of kidnapping, arson, pipeline vandalisation as well as other nefarious activities in the regions to secure the regions and ensure that the regions remains a conducive environment to attract investments.”

While thanking Governor Uduaghan for been a good host, the Governors stated, “the South-South and South-East Governors agreed on economic and political integration of the old Eastern and Midwestern regions now the South-South and South-East and pledged to strengthen cooperation across the board with particular focus on development of infrastructure linking the region, particularly federal roads.”

“The Governors also pledged to work together to ensure the development of all the ports in the region including the Abia Dry port and called on the Nigeria Port Authority to facilitate the achievements of this objective,” the Governors said, reiterating that while they commended President Jonathan on the extensive rehabilitation and modernisation of the airports across the country, it was important for the Federal Government to establish cargo airports in Owerri and additional deep-sea ports in the regions including Ibaka, Escravos, Agge and also called for the dredging of the Calabar port.

They also, agreed to revive agro-allied industries particularly in palm and rubber plantations to exploit the comparative advantage in agriculture in both regions, adding, “the Governors of the South-South and the South-East states called on the Federal Government to facilitate the full implementation of the Free Trade Zones status amongst the states of the region.”

The meeting which was by Governors Peter Obi of Anambra, Sulivan Chime of Enugu, Rochas Okorocha of Imo, Theodore Orji of Abia and Martin Elechi of Ebonyi States and their counterparts in South-South States; Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta (host Governor), Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom, Liyel Imoke of Cross Rivers, Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State while Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State was represented at the meeting by his Deputy, Engr. Tele Ikuru with the Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomole conspicuously absent used the occasion to mourn the death of late Professor Chinua Achebe, adding that they sympathized with the people of South-East region and on the death of Professor Chinua Achebe. They also condoled the Achebe family and acknowledged his legacy as a literary giant and international ambassador of the Nigerian culture.

COMMUNIQUE

Issued by the SOUTH-SOUTH and SOUTH-EAST Governors Meeting in Asaba, Delta State, on 12th May 2013

The SOUTH-SOUTH and SOUTH-EAST Governors met in Asaba, Delta State, on 12th May 2013, to review the State of the Nation and the topical issues confronting our maturing democracy and resolved as follows:

1. The South-South and South-East Governors commend His Excellency, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, for his focused leadership and bold, result-yielding Transformation Agenda, which deserves the unwavering support of all Nigerians and friends of Nigeria alike, as the laudable achievements of the administration in strengthening our democracy, stabilizing the polity, growing the economy and improving the quality of life of all Citizens continue to unfold.

Economic and political cooperation between the regions.

2. The South-South and South-East Governors agreed on economic and political integration of the old eastern and Midwest regions now the South-South and South-East. The governors pledged to strengthen cooperation across the board with particular focus on development of infrastructure linking the region particularly federal roads. The Governors also called on the Federal Government to rehabilitate all rail lines linking the States in the region as well as embark on the construction of railway links between all the states. The Governors also pledged to work together to ensure the development of all the ports in the region including the Abia Dry port and called on the Nigeria Port Authority to facilitate the achievement of this objective.

3. The Governors commend Mr. President for the extensive ongoing rehabilitation/modernisation of the airports across the country particularly those in our regions. The Governors also called on Mr President to establish cargo airports including Owerri and additional deep-sea ports in the regions including Ibaka, Escravos, Agge and also calls for the dredging of the Calabar port.

4. The Governors agreed to work to revive agro-allied industries particularly in palm and rubber plantations to exploit the comparative advantage in agriculture in both regions.

5. The Governors of the South-South and the South-East states called on the Federal Government to facilitate the full implementation of the Free Trade Zones status amongst the States of the region.

Security and State of the Nation

6. The South-South and South-East governors plead with all Nigerians to adopt dialogue and peaceful means to resolve issues affecting our country. The governors also agreed to work together and ensure regional cooperation in stemming the spate of kidnapping, arson, pipeline vandalisation as well as other nefarious activities in the regions to secure the regions and ensure that the regions remains a conducive environment for attracting investments.

7. The meeting was concerned at the condemnable behaviour and antics of some Nigerians and their evil collaborators in assaulting the collective psyche of the Nation, by waging various acts of terrorism, the South-South and South-East Governors not only commiserate with the President, the Governments of all affected areas, the victims, their families and majority of peace-loving Nigerians, but salutes the resolute stance of Mr. President to confront terror wherever and whenever it occurs in Nigeria, while appealing to all law-biding citizens to sincerely join hands with Governments to stamp out these and other evils from our society.

A.O.B.

8. The Governors sympathize with their South-East colleagues and indeed all Nigerians on the transition of Professor Chinua Achebe. We sincerely condole with the Achebe family and acknowledge his legacy as a literary giant and international ambassador of the Nigerian culture.

Asaba, 12th May, 2013