• As group insists on Southern President, Vat collections
For the third time, Senator Hope Uzodimma shuns the meeting of Southern governors which took place at Enugu Thursday. He has previously kept away from the Asaba and Lagos meetings.
His action runs contrary to the expectations of many Imolites who are concerned about his position on the open grazing system and hoped that he would use the opportunity to join forces with others.
Southern Governors met insisting on a Nigeria President of Southern region extraction, even as Governors of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi and Imo States sent their deputies.
The Southern Governors who reviewed the state or the nation and the progress of implementation of the decisions reached in their previous meetings and further said that they were satisfied with the rate at which the States in the Southern Nigeria are enacting or amending the Anti- Open Grazing Laws which align with the uniform template and aspiration of Southern Governors.
They also enccouraged the States that are yet to enact the anti-grazing law to do so expeditiously.
“We encouraged the full operationalization of already agreed regional security outfits; which would meet, share intelligence and collaborate, to ensure the security and safety of the region.
They are also reaffirmed its earlier commitment to structural and fiscal federalism as resolved at the inaugural meeting of the
Forum held in May 2021 at Asaba, Delta State and emphasized the need for the Southern States to leverage the legislative competence of their respective State Houses of Assembly as well as representation in the National assembly to pursue its inclusion in the Nigerian
Constitution through the ongoing constitutional amendment. The governors also resolved to support the position that the collection of VAT falls within the powers of the States.
The communiqué signed by the Chairman of the Forum, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, further reads in parts: “Expressed satisfaction with the handling of issues around the Petroleum Industry ACT (PIA) and ownership of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) by the larger Nigerian Governors’ Forum.
“Reiterated their earlier position that the next President of Nigeria must come from the Southern part of Nigeria in line with politics of equity, justice and fairness.
“The Forum thanked the host Governor, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, and chose Rivers State as the next host for the Southern Governors’ Forum meeting in November 2021.
Among the absentees were: Governors Okezie Ikpeazu ( Abia State) Willie Obiano (Anambra State) Dave Umahi (Ebonyi State) and Hope Uzodinma (Imo State)
While the governors of Abia, Ebonyi, Imo and other five states sent their deputies, Anambra State was not represented in the meeting.
