January 28, (THEWILL) – Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has been unanimously elected Chairman of the South-South Governors Forum. Diri’s election was confirmed on Tuesday during the forum’s meeting at Government House in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State was also appointed Vice Chairman of the forum.
The nomination of Diri as chairman was moved by Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, and seconded by Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.
Responding to his election, Diri described it as a call to higher service and pledged to serve the forum and the region with dedication.
He emphasised that the role was not just for him but a collective responsibility of all South-South governors to propel the region forward.
“We will go beyond issuing communiques. We will take action on critical issues that affect our development,” Diri stated.
He stressed that the South-South region, which had remained silent while other regions made strides, must now be proactive.
In his opening address, Diri outlined the objectives of the forum, which include fostering greater synergy among South-South states and advancing regional investments in key sectors like security, agriculture, education, power, environment, tourism, and youth empowerment through sports, ICT, and entrepreneurship.
He also highlighted the importance of speaking with one voice in the face of the rapidly changing national and global landscape.
“By leveraging the strengths and resources of each state, we can design targeted initiatives that will ensure sustainable development and prosperity,” Diri said.
He also pointed to improving regional air travel through South-South flight connections as an area of immediate collaboration.
Governors Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom), Bassey Otu (Cross River), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), and Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers) expressed their appreciation for Diri’s leadership in hosting the meeting and setting the tone for a focused action plan.
They acknowledged the long-overdue need for collaboration, stressing the importance of working together to build a resilient economy outside of oil and gas.
The governors also agreed that a unified voice from the South-South would send the right signal to the federal government that the region deserves greater attention.
They pointed out that previous efforts, such as those under the BRACED Commission, had not yielded substantial results and expressed optimism that Diri’s leadership would open new doors for the region’s development.
In a communique, the governors expressed full support for the ongoing tax reforms by President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
However, they called on the president to extend the proposed VAT sharing to include oil and gas derivation.
The governors argued that while the law prescribes a minimum of 13 percent oil derivation, the federal government should consider increasing the share allocated to the region’s oil-producing states.
The forum also commended the president for awarding the coastal road project but urged that construction should commence from the Calabar axis.
They argued that this would enhance connectivity and stimulate economic growth across the region.
While appreciating President Tinubu for the ongoing work on the East-West Road, the governors urged the government to expedite the project to ensure its timely completion.
Other issues raised included the expansion of the Ogoni land remediation efforts to address pollution across other affected areas in the region.
The governors also expressed readiness to establish a structured regional security network to enhance the safety of South-South states.
A highlight of the meeting was the celebration of Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, who marked his 50th birthday on Tuesday.
Amos Okioma is a Correspondent at THEWILL
