12th May, 2013
JETHRO IBILEKE/Asaba
Governors of the old Eastern and Mid West Regions of Nigeria have vowed to revive economic and political ties of the region which pre-date Nigeria’s civil war.
The governors’ intention was made known Sunday in a 12-point communiqué issued at the end of a meeting held in Asaba, capital of Delta State.
The meeting was attended by all the South-East governors including Peter Obi (Anambra), Martin Elechi (Ebonyi), Theodore Orji (Abia), Sullivan Chime (Enugu) and Rochas Okorocha (Imo).
Other South-South governors present included the host, Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta), Liyel Imoke (Cross River), Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa) and Godswill Akpabio (Akwa-Ibom).
Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State was however absent, while his Rivers State counterpart, Rotimi Amaechi was represented by his deputy, Tele Ikuru.
Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State who is Chairman of South-South Governors’ Forum, who read part of the communiqué, said “the governors agreed on economic and political integration of the old Eastern and Mid West regions, now the South-South and South-East zones.
According to Imoke, “the governors pledged to strengthen cooperation across board with particular focus on development of infrastructures linking the region, particularly federal roads and bridges.
To further strengthen tie between the region, the governors also called on the federal government to rehabilitate all rail lines linking the states in the region as well as embark on the construction of railway links between all states.
Besides, they pledged to work together to ensure the development of all sea ports in the region including Abia dry port, just as they called on the Nigeria Port Authority (NPA) to facilitate the achievement of these objectives.
They further agreed to work to revive agro allied industries, particularly oil palm and rubber plantations in order to explore the comparative of agriculture in the region.