*Rescheduled meeting should be all-inclusive for accountability, group tells Governors
From Ameachi Prosper (The New Diplomat’s Delta Correspondent)
Leaders and stakeholders of the South-South geopolitical zone have advanced reasons on why they demanded public apology from the presidency over a deferred stakeholders’ meeting in Port Harcourt, Tuesday, noting the demand should be met before a reconvened meeting.
Recall that governors of the South-South and stakeholders comprising traditional rulers, religious leaders, youths and women from the geo-political zone had assembled in Port Harcourt, Rivers state awaiting a presidential delegation which convened the meeting.
However, after reportedly waiting for some hours, governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state, who is the chairman of the South South Governors Forum, informed the stakeholders that the presidency has deferred the meeting over an emergency security meeting called by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Reportedly irked by the information, some of the stakeholders expressed displeasure with the development, describing it as “disrespect to the people of the region and called for an immediate public apology from the presidency.”
They said the action of the Federal Government amounted to treating the South-South and its people with disdain, and warned on the consequences of undermining the zone.
But in an appeal to douse tension, Governor Okowa implored the people to remain calm in the face of the disrespect and embarrassment caused by the cancellation of the meeting.
He said that the governors were as pained as the other stakeholders over the disappointment, and assured that the governors would definitely convey the feeling of the people of the region to the presidency.
“We understand the anger in you, and on our own part as governors, we are also angry because the South-South zone is a very important part of this nation.
“There is no doubt that we the governors also feel insulted and we feel very sad and touched at what has happened.
“We felt it was necessary to consult with you as critical stakeholders because if we had acted on the information without consulting you, that would have added to the insult already meted to us.
“Together we call for a public apology because the meeting was not called at our instance; it was called at the instance of the Presidency.
“Some of us didn’t sleep trying to put things in order to make this meeting a reality.
“We will convey this message to the Chief of Staff to the President that as a region we deserve public apology, particularly to our traditional rulers and opinion leaders and also to the Governors that you voted into office.
“This is the least we expect before this meeting can be reconvened,” Okowa stated. South-South leaders demand public apology from FG over botched meeting.”
Meanwhile, a group of South-South Professionals under the umbrella of South South Professionals(SSP) urged the governors of the south-south to carry all important stakeholders along in a rescheduled stakeholders meeting.
According to the SSP, it would do the South-South great good ” if our governors involve all other critical stakeholders rather than hand-picking a handful of loyalists and lackeys to Port-Harcourt to attend a so-called Stakeholders meeting. Where are the solid professionals from the South-South in that meeting?
“These are issues that are germane to the future of the region but our governors tend to trivialize them by inviting a hand-picked team of loyalists and lackeys without any spine and intellectual depth. It is good that the meeting was botched as that prepares a good ground for planning.
“Where are our past and present political leaders from the region? Where are our professors, lawyers, doctors, accountants, professionals, etc? Where are the men and women of weight from the region? It was poorly planned. NEITI just released the figures and details of huge disbursements to south south states under Q3. There should be some accountability from our governors. That is what we stakeholders are also saying under #EndSARS. ”
It could be recalled that the presidency had conveyed a stakeholders engagement with the South South leaders to discuss issues ranging from resource control and other issues raised by the EndSARS protest.
