The Southern Governors’ Forum (SGF) met on Monday in Lagos more than a month after its notable meeting in Asaba, Delta State where open grazing was banned across the region.
In a communiqué signed and issued by the chairman Rotimi Akeredolu, the forum insisted on rotational presidency, saying Nigeria’s president in 2023 must come from the south.
The forum also addressed the current security challenge, constitutional amendment and the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).
It re-affirmed its commitment to the unity of Nigeria on the pillars of equity, fairness, justice, progress and peaceful co-existence among its people.
”The forum reiterates its commitment to the politics of equity, fairness and unanimously agrees that the presidency of Nigeria be rotated between Southern and Northern Nigeria.
”The forum resolved that the next president of Nigeria should emerge from the Southern Region,” the communiqué read.
It further re-emphasised the need for state police, resolving that if for any reason security institutions needed to undertake an operation in any state, the chief security officer of the state must be duly informed.
It noted that a timeline of Wednesday, September 1, 2021 had been set for the promulgation of the anti-open grazing law in all member states.
On the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), it rejected the proposed three per cent and supported the five per cent share of the oil revenue to the host community as recommended by the House of Representatives.
”The forum also rejects the proposed 30 per cent share of profit for the exploration of oil and gas in the basins;
”The forum rejects the ownership structure of the proposed Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC).
”The forum disagrees that the company be vested in the Federal Ministry of Finance but should be held in trust by Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), since all tiers of government have stakes in that vehicle.
”In order to consolidate our democracy and strengthen the Electoral process, the Southern Governors’ Forum reject the removal of the Electronic transmission of the election result from the electoral act,” the communiqué read.
It also rejected the confirmation of exclusive jurisdiction in pre-election matters on the Federal High Court.
