By Azeez Adesanya
The Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, yesterday emerged the new Chairman of Southern Governors’ Forum.
His emergency came after the 17 southern governor’s meeting held in Abeokuta, Ogun state capital.
The Southern Governors Forum serves as the collective body for the 17 governors from the South-West, South-South, and South-East geopolitical zones of Nigeria.
Anambra Governor, Professor Charles Soludo emerged the Vice Chairman of the forum.
Abiodun succeeded the former Governor of Ondo State, late Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu.
The meeting was attended by 16 Governors, except the Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Siminalayi Fubara who was absent at the meeting .
The governors earlier had a closed door meeting which lasted about five hours at the Presidential Lodge, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
Abiodun while speaking after his emergence said, “It is indeed an honour and a humble one at that, that I have been nominated to lead the Southern Governors’ Forum, alongside Professor Charles Soludo, the Governor of Anambra State as the Vice Chairman of this forum.
“I first want to thank all the Governors, the 17 Governors for coming to Abeokuta today for this meeting, the first meeting after about three years. It underscores the commitment and the determination to ensure that the Southern States occupy their pride of place.
“I also want to thank them for this confidence so reposed in myself and Professor Soludo and pledged that we will ensure that this confidence is justified.
“We have discussed a whole ranging number of issues but because of time constraints, myself and Governor Soludo will be available to press the details of our communique that reflects our aspirations, our determination and the new and repositioned Southern Governors’ Forum.
Among the governors that attended the southern Governor’s forum were. Gov, Babajide Sanwolu of Lagos State , Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, Seyi Makinde Oyo State, Alex Otii Abia State, Ademola Adeleke Osun State.
Others are the Ekiti state governor , Biodun Oyebanji, Imo state deputy governor Chinyere Ekomaru, Delta state deputy, Monday Onyeme and Ondo state deputy governor Olayide Adelami were also in attendance.
HeapNews reports that the meeting in ogun state was to fashioned out modality on how the new Chairman of the forum will emerged, recall that the last chairman of the forum was the former Ondo State governor late Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu who died recently
However, there are insinuations in some quarters that there are divisions in the southern governors forum as to who will emerge, Dapo Abiodun emergency has put to rest the insinuation about who will emerge as the southern governor’s forum between the ruling All Progressives Congress [APC] and the main opposition party [PDP]