By Johnbosco Agbakwuru
CALABAR— SIX governors of the South-South region, Wednesday, took a swipe at the recent outburst of their colleagues from the North for linking the insecurity in some parts of the country to the issue of 13% derivation, describing the comments as misplaced and unfortunate.
At the First Ordinary Session of the governors of Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo and Delta states codenamed BRACED, 2012, at the Executive Chambers of the Cross River State Government,they insisted that the issue which should take the front burner for discussion in this country was the environmental degradation and pollution in the Niger Delta occasioned by oil exploitation that had adversely affected fishing and farming activities in the zone.
The BRACED Commission Governors Council questioned the rationale behind the non-exploitation of other mineral deposits in the different parts of the country to the detriment of the oil and gas reserves in the South-South.
(http://vml1.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/S-South-Govs1.jpg?9d7bd4) (http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/03/insecurity-in-north-not-linked-to-derivation-s-south-govs/s-south-govs1/)L-R; Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State, Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State and Adams Oshiemole of Edo State during the South-South Governors meeting ahead of South-South Economic Summit held at Cross River State Government House, Tuesday. Photo; Henry Unini A communiqué read on behalf of the commission by Chairman of the South-South Governors Forum and the host governor of the meeting, Senator Liyel Imoke, at the end of the meeting which started at about 9pm Tuesday and lasted up to 2.30am the next day, described the position of their colleagues in the North linking the alarming insecurity to the issue of 13 per cent derivation as misplaced.
It read in part: "On the matter of derivation and sharing formula, the governors regretted the attempt to link the increasing insecurity in some parts of the country to the issue of 13 per cent derivation and considered it unfortunate and misplaced.
"The governors insisted that on the contrary, the issue to be addressed is the environmental degradation and pollution in the Niger-Delta occasioned by oil exploitation which has adversely affected fishing and farming activities. This makes it imperative for an upward review of the derivation principle and introduction of fiscal federalism.
"The governors, who further questioned the rationale of not exploiting other mineral deposits in different parts of the country while depleting the oil and gas reserves of the South-South, expressed the strong conviction that the introduction of fiscal federalism and resource control will encourage each state of the federation to control its resources and develop in accordance with its capability.
"They reaffirmed their support for the position of Nigerian Governors' Forum that revenue allocation be reviewed to give more money to states and local government as well as devolve more powers and responsibilities to the constituent states for rapid development.
The governors announced that the South-South Economic Summit will be hosted by Delta State from April 26-28, 2012 and also congratulated Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State for his second term victory at the polls and Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson on his emergence as governor of Bayelsa state who was attending the meeting for the first time.
All the six governors, Hon. Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, Rivers, Obong Godswill Akpabio, Akwa Ibom, Senator Liyel Imoke, Cross River, Comrade Adams Oshiomole, Edo state and Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta state were in attendance as well as Ambassador Joe Keshi, Director-General of BRACED Commission.
Vanguard Nigeria