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Diri Emerges South-South Governors Forum Chairman As Forum Gives Nod To FG’s Tax Reform Initiative

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The Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has emerged the new chairman of the South-South Governors Forum..
Senator Diri was elected on Tuesday during the forum’s meeting in Government House, Yenagoa, the state capital.
This is even as Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Otu, clinched the position of vice chairman of the forum.
While the Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, moved the motion nominating Diri, his Rivers State counterpart, Siminalayi Fubara, seconded it.
Responding, Sen Diri said his emergence as chairman was a call to higher service and promised to serve the forum and the region diligently, saying it was not an office for him alone but a collective task for all governors of the South-South to move the region forward.
The Bayelsa State helmsman stated that the forum would go beyond issuing communiques to taking action in critical issues that affect the region’s development.
“Working together, we’ve all resolved that our region will not fail. We’ve seen other regions working while our region was quiet”, Gov. Diri said.
In his opening address, Gov. Diri stated that the objectives of the forum include fostering greater synergy among states of the zone and advancing regional investments in critical sectors such as security, agriculture, education, power, environment, tourism, and youth empowerment through sports, ICT and entrepreneurship.
He said it had become imperative to speak with one voice in view of the swiftly changing landscape of the country and the world at large.
According to him, leveraging the strengths and resources of each member state, they could design and implement targeted initiatives that foster sustainable development and prosperity.
He identified South-South regional flight connection as one area of collaboration to ease air travel within the zone.
In their remarks, Governors Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom), Senator Bassey Otu (Cross River), Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta) and Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers) appreciated Sen. Diri for hosting the meeting and for setting the tone for states to have action plans and delivery timetable on issues agreed on.
They noted that the meeting was long overdue and that it was expedient for states in the region to work together to forge a buoyant economy outside of oil and gas.
The States Chief Executives also stated that speaking in one voice would send the right signal that the region deserved the necessary attention from the federal government.
According to them, previous meetings, particularly under the auspices of the BRACED (Bayelsa Rivers Akwa Ibom Cross River Edo and Delta) Commission had not yielded the necessary results and prayed that the new direction under Sen Diri would open a new vista for the region while urging forum members to put political affiliations aside to enable them achieve their objectives.
In a communique read by Governor Diri, the governors expressed support for the ongoing tax reforms of the President Bola Tinubu administration, but however urged the president to extend the proposed VAT sharing to other areas of derivation like oil and gas.
The Governors argued that the law on oil derivation prescribed a minimum of 13 per cent and that the federal government should consider also increasing the amount on oil derivation to states of the region.
The forum also appreciated the president for the award and commencement of the coastal road project but demanded that it equally commence from the Calabar axis as it would not only enhance connectivity but also stimulate economic development in the region.
While thanking President Tinubu for the ongoing work on the East-West Road, the governors stressed that work should be expedited to ensure early completion.
Other areas the South South governors called for the intervention of the federal government included the extension of the ongoing remediation of Ogoni land to other polluted environments in the region, just as the forum expressed its readiness to establish a robust and structured security network to enhance security of the region.
Highpoint of the meeting was the celebration of the birthday of the Rivers governor, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, who turned 50 on Tuesday, January 28, 2025.

Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa

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Gov Alia Appoints TuFace As Adviser

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Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has appointed Nigerian music legend, Innocent Idibia, popularly known as TuFace, as his Technical Adviser on Entertainment and Community Outreach.
In a viral video on Wednesday, Governor Alia praised TuFace for all the support towards his administration.
The Governor stated that TuFace can do more.
He stated, “On behalf of the Benue State Government and our very good people, we want to give you some more responsibility plus the ones you have been doing because you have the capacity to do some more and help us chart a way forward to improve other people’s lives and to gain more from your wisdom and advice as well.
“So, I’m pleased to announce that we will make you a Technical Adviser to the Governor on Entertainment and Community Outreach.”

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Oborevwori, Okowa Dump PDP For APC

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Governor of Delta State, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, has officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The announcement was made following a closed-door meeting at the Government House in Asaba on Wednesday.
The Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Sir Festus Ahon, confirmed the development in a telephone conversation with The Tide’s source.
Similarly, the defection of former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa was announced on Wednesday in Asaba by Senator James Manager, following a meeting that lasted over six hours at the Government House.
Senator Manager said all PDP members in the State, including the Governor, former Governor Okowa, the Speaker, the state party chairman, and all local government chairmen, had agreed to join the APC.
“We cannot continue to be in a sinking boat,” he said.
The decision to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) followed extensive consultations with political stakeholders and was made in the interest of Delta State’s long-term development.
Governor Oborevwori, who won the 2023 gubernatorial election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was received by senior APC officials in what political analysts are already describing as a strategic realignment with far-reaching implications ahead of the 2027 general elections.

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Speakers Conference Tasks FG, Governors On Wanton Killings

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The Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria has condemned the recent wave of killings in Plateau, Borno, Benue, Niger State and most recently, Kwara State, calling on the federal and state governments to take urgent steps to stem the tide.
Chairman, Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, Adebo Ogundoyin, stated this in a statement issued in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Rt Hon. Ogundoyin, who is the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, said the gruesome killings had led to tragic loss of lives, widespread displacement, and unimaginable trauma for thousands of Nigerians.
“We are alarmed by the escalating insecurity in the land and the seeming helplessness with which these attacks are met. The time for mere condemnation and rhetoric has passed; urgent and coordinated action is now required at all levels of government to end these bloodbaths and restore peace and order.
“While we acknowledge that defence and national security fall within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal Government, we must stress that every level of government bears responsibility for the security and welfare of the people. State governors, in particular, must rise to the occasion and fully understand that governance is not limited to road construction and ceremonial functions. True governance is rooted in the protection of lives, the preservation of order, and the alleviation of suffering,” he said.
He called on state governments to complement the efforts of the Federal Government by making and enforcing enabling laws for community policing and other grassroots-driven security models.
According to him, States must develop proactive frameworks that integrate local intelligence, social support systems, and youth engagement in the fight against insecurity.
The conference also urged the Federal Government to meaningfully engage the citizenry and introduce bold, practical measures to cushion the hardship caused by its current economic policies.
“Millions of Nigerians are groaning under the weight of inflation, unemployment, and a cost-of-living crisis. It is imperative that relief initiatives—targeted, transparent, and impactful—are rolled out without delay. Dialogue, not distance, must define the relationship between the government and its people at this critical time.
“The Conference of Speakers affirms its commitment to supporting all legislative actions necessary to restore security, promote justice, and foster inclusive governance across the country. The killings in Benue, Niger, Plateau, Borno, Kwara, and any part of Nigeria must not be allowed to continue unchecked. Justice must prevail, and peace must be restored.
“Let it be known: the safety, dignity, and well-being of every Nigerian must remain the top priority of all arms and levels of government,” Rt Hon. Ogundoyin said.

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