Southern Govs Set Sept 1 Deadline For Promulgation Of Anti-Open Grazing Law
•Frown At Selective Administration of Justice
Governors from the southern parts of the country, on Wednesday, announced 1 September, 2021 as the deadline for the promulgation of the anti-open grazing law in all member states.
This was as the governors also frowned at what they described as selective criminal administration of justice and resolved that arrests should be made within the ambit of the law and fundamental human rights.
The above was part of the resolves of the Southern Governors’ Forum, as contained in a communique issued at the end of its meeting held at the Lagos State Goverment House, today.
The forum, at the meeting, under the chairmanship of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, also unanimously agreed that the southern part of the country should produce the next president of the country.
Rising from the meeting, the forum re-affirmed its commitment to the unity of the country, based “on the pillars of equity, fairness, justice, progress and peaceful co-existence between and among its people.”
The Southern Governors’ Forum reviewed the situation in the country, focusing on the current security situation, constitutional amendment and Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).
The governors collectively asked for state police, just as they rejected the three per cent share of the oil revenue to host communities, as proposed by the House of Representatives.
The forum reiterated “its commitment to the politics of equity, fairness and unanimously agrees that the presidency of Nigeria be rotated between Southern and Northern Nigeria and resolved that the next president of Nigeria should emerge from the Southern Region. “
The southern governors reviewed the security situation in the country and commends security operatives “for their relentless efforts in restoring security and safety and commiserates with families and loved ones of those who have fallen in the line of duty.”
The governors re-emphasised the need for state police and “resolved that, if for any reason security institutions need to undertake an operation in any state, the Chief Security Officer of the state must be duly informed.
“The forum frowns at selective criminal administration of justice and resolved that arrests should be made within the ambit of the law and fundamental human rights.”
They unanimously set a timeline of Wednesday, 1 September, 2021 for the promulgation of the anti-open grazing law in all member states and;
“Resolved that funds deducted from the Federation Account for the Nigeria Police Security Trust Fund should be distributed among the states and Federal Government to combat security challenges. “
While commending the National Assembly for the progress made in the passage of the PIB, the southern governors rejected the proposed three per cent share of the oil revenue to the host community as recommended by the House of Representatives.
The forum supported the existing five per cent share arrangement also rejected 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).
It disagreed that the company be vested in the Federal Ministry of Finance but rather be held in trust by Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), since all tiers of hovernment 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; and also rejects the confirmation of exclusive jurisdiction in pre-election matters on the Federal High Court.
“The Forum unanimously chose Lagos State as its permanent secretariat and appreciated the Governor of Lagos State for the wonderful hosting of this meeting while commending him for his good work in the state,” the governors stated in the communique.
