Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode in a group photograph with 12 other Southern Governor’s and 3 deputies during the Southern Governors’ Summit at the Lagos House, Ikeja, on Monday, October 23, 2017.

Kazeem Ugbodaga

Arising from its summit in Lagos on Monday, the Southern Governors’ Forum, SGF, have called for devolution of power that will entrench true federalism as well as canvassed the unity of Nigeria.

The Governors present include the Six Southwest Govs: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode; Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose; Ogun State Governor, Sen. Ibikunle Amosun; Ondo State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu; Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and Oyo State Governor, Sen. Abiola Ajimobi.

Also present are the Governor’s of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike; Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki; Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu; Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Emmanuel Udom and Ebonyi State, David Umahi.

The Deputy Governors of Anambra, Dr Nkem Okeke and Cross River State, Professor Ivara Esu are also present at the event.

Reading the communique at the end of the meeting, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode said the Southern Governor’s Forum restated its commitment to a united, indivisible Nigeria.

He said the summit also reiterated its position on true federalism and devolution of powers and also restated its commitment to collaborate in the region for the growth and development of their economies.

Ambode added that the summit restated commitment to security of lives and properties of the citizens as well as emphasized the need for effective linkage of good infrastructure within the sphere of southern Nigeria.

Earlier in his opening speech at the summit, Ambode said previous Forum held in the past achieved much, but noted that there “is still a lot to be done. There is certainly a lot to be done about true federalism, an issue that requires urgent, meticulous and proactive attention from the Forum.

“No less disturbing is the failure to undertake the periodic review of the review allocation formula as provided for by the 1999 Constitution to reflect evolving realities. This is another critical matter that ought to engage this Forum in order to enhance the viability of the state and local governments as well as their capacity to fulfill their developmental roles in the polity.”

The governor decried that states were being disparaged for always carrying begging bowls to Abuja in quest of hand-outs from the federal government, saying that this “is a function of our present national constitution that burdens the federal government with activities and responsibilities that rightly fall within the province of the states.”

He said that the productivity and revenue-generating capacities of most of the states were stifled thus turning them into no better than street beggar states incapable of even meeting routine obligations of paying workers’ salaries and pensions without federal support.

Ambode explained that the state had fought and won several legal battles since 1999, which had systematically strengthened her autonomy and enhanced her fiscal viability, adding that over the years, the state “has won legal control over the management of its environment, control of urban and physical planning, regulation of overhead masts, registration and regulation of hotels and restaurants and control of her inland waterways.”

According to him, “The victory does not belong to Lagos alone, but to all other states in the federation and which they must explore significantly. I believe if Lagos has been able to achieve so much fighting singly, the Forum can accomplish much more by thinking, planning, strategizing and acting together.”

Ambode stated that the resuscitation of the Southern Governors Forum was coming at a most appropriate time.

“As we are aware, the Senate and House of Representatives are currently harmonizing their differences on the proposed amendments of the 1999 Constitution before they are transmitted to the State House of Assemblies for approval. It is important for this Forum to comprehensively look at the proposed amendments with a view to working with our respective House of Assemblies to ensure a coordinated response on our part that will strengthen the practice of democracy, federalism, constitutionalism and the rule of law,” he said.

He said that the first achievement of the Forum was its collective advocacy for the special allocation to oil-producing states in the Federation Accounts, which resulted in the current formula of 13 percent accruing for derivation in allocating revenues from the Federation Account.