The Governor of Ogun state, Prince Dapo Abiodun was named the Southern Governors’ Forum chairman on Monday, June 24.
The Anambra governor, Professor Charles Soludo also emerged as the vice chairman.
The emergence of Abiodun and Soludo as chairman and vice respectively, was part of the decision reached at the end of the meeting of the Southern Governors’ Forum, held at the Presidential Lodge, GRA Ibara, Abeokuta.
The decision was made at the meeting, which took place at the Presidential Lodge, GRA Ibara in Abeokuta.
Sixteen out of the seventeen governors who constituted the Southern Governors Forum attended the meeting with exception to the Governor of Rivers state, Similayi Fubara.
While some of the governors were physically present at the meeting, some were represented by their deputies.
The governors that were present in the meeting include: Babajide Sanwoolu (Lagos), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti), Alex Otti (Abia), Godwin Obaseki (Edo), Ademola Adeleke (Osun), Bassey Otu (Cross River).
Others were; Charles Soludo (Anambra), Francis Nwifuru (Ebonyi), Peter Mbah (Enugu), Duoye Diri (Bayelsa) and Uno Eno (Akwa Ibom).
Also the deputies that were there to represent their governors were Deputy Governors, Chinyere Ekomaru (Imo), Monday Onyeme (Delta) and Olayide Adelami (Ondo).
Speaking with reporters at the end of the meeting, Abiodun had thanked his colleagues for electing him as the leader of the forum.
“It is indeed an honour and a humble one at that, that I have been nominated to lead the Southern Governors’ Forum, alongside with Professor Charles Soludo, the Governor of Anambra State as the Vice Chairman of this forum,” he said.
“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,” he continued.
“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 make available to you pressmen the details of our communique that reflects our aspirations, our determination and the new and repositioned Southern Governors’ Forum,” he added.
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