Governors of the 11 states in the South East and South-South geopolitical zones have declared that the time to rebuild the two zones had come.
The governors took the decision on Sunday night in Enugu after a meeting they convened to reinvent the old Eastern Region.
In their resolutions after the parley that lasted for several hours, the governors agreed to pursue a common economic and political agenda to develop the two zones.
According to them, the two regions share common and identical cultural and economic traits.
The joint meeting of the South East and South-South governors commenced at about 8.30pm on Sunday and lasted till the early hours of Monday.
At the forum, the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Gabriel Emmanuel emerged as the Acting Chairman of the South East/South-South Governors’ Forum.
He told journalists after the meeting that the governors from the two zones had decided to pursue inter-regional cooperation for greater integration.
Udom stressed that the leaders of the two zones had accepted to work as a people who share common ancestral heritage, culture and affinity.
The present South East and South-South zones of the country formed the bulk of old
Eastern Region under the late Premier, Chief Michael Okpara, during the First Republic.
The region was rated as one of the fastest developing economy in the world before the outbreak of the 1967 to 1970 Nigeria-Biafra Civil War.
The three-point communique issued by the governors was read by Governor Udom.
They said: “Having reviewed the state of the nation, particularly as it affects us in the South-South and South East regions, we have agreed to pursue inter-regional cooperation.
“This will be for integration and for the economic benefit of the two regions.
“We have also resolved to politically work together and realign as a people that shared common heritage, culture and affinity.”
In his opening address, the Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, who hosted the meeting, emphasised the need for cooperation between the South East and the South-South zones.
He said that the two zones “are joined by tradition, geography and brotherhood, and also by common challenges.”
Ugwuanyi explained that Igbo leaders had met and agreed “on a restructured Nigeria, where peace, love, equity and opportunities are paramount, regardless of creed, ethnicity, gender and political affiliations.
“It is against this background, therefore, that the meeting of the South East and the South-South, becomes important,” the governor added.
Ugwuanyi, who lamented common infrastructural challenges in the two geopolitical zones, said the South-East and South-South would thrive through mutual cooperation.
The governor stressed the need for the inclusion of the eastern rail corridor, which runs through the South-South and South East in the proposed Chinese EXIM Bank loan.
The Ebonyi State Governor, Chief Dave Umahi, in his capacity as the chairman of the South East Governors’ Forum, spoke in the same direction before the meeting started.
Nine of the 11 governors of the zones attended the maiden meeting at Nike Lake Hotel, Enugu.
They are Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, Abia State’s Okezie Ikpeazu, his Ebonyi State counterpart, Chief Dave Umahi, and Owelle Rochas Okorocha of Imo State. Willie Obiano of Anambra State was represented by his deputy.
Also in attendance were Governor Emmanuel Udom of Akwa Ibom, Nyesome Wike of Rivers State, Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa State) and Ben Ayade (Cross River State). Both Governors Godwin Obaseki of Edo State and Okowa of Delta State were absent.
The next meeting of the forum will hold in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
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