South-South Governors Meet In Port Harcourt, Rivers

By Edna Wande On Oct 4, 2021

Governors of the south-south geo-political zone are currently meeting in Port Harcourt, Rivers state’s capital city.

Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa , Delta, Rivers, Cross River and Edo State governors are said to be attending the meeting and it is speculated that they may discuss issues bordering on open grazing, security and economic well being of South-South geo-political zone.

Ben Ayade, governor of Cross River, is the only member of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The rest of them belong to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

A source told Tribune;

From what I gathered, the South-South governors will discuss the issue of the 2023 presidential election. You know from the look of things, it will likely come to the Southern part of the country.

Prominent politicians from the region, including former President Goodluck Jonathan, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, seem to have been pencilled down as possible contenders.

Also, the issue of VAT and ban on open grazing in the zone will be discussed. Remember, most of the state governors have assented to the Anti-Open Grazing Bill passed by their various State House of Assembly.

Though the agenda for the meeting is not yet known, record say that issues of Value Added Tax, anti-open grazing, security, and that of Southern presidency in 2023 are among matters that may dominate discussions.

Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has been in a legal tussle with Rivers and Lagos state governments over VAT collection.

A court of appeal in Abuja has since ordered both Rivers and Lagos states to maintain the status quo pending the determination of an appeal filed by FIRS.

Nyesom Wike, Rivers governor, and Babajide Sanwo-Olu, his Lagos counterpart, have argued that their states will do more if they receive VAT.