Sanwo-Olu emerges South West Governors’ Forum Chairman

Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has been unanimously endorsed as the Chairman of the Southwest Governors’ Forum.

The six governors from the South-West states – Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Gov. Ademola Adele of Osun, Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State, Gov. Dapo Abiodun Ogun and Gov. Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti, made the endorsement at a meeting at the Lagos House, Ikeja.

NEWSVERGE reports that Sanwo-Olu replaced the late Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, who, as the Chairman of the forum, championed the Amotekun cause.

The closed-door meeting, which started at noon, ended at past 3.00 p.m.

The governors expressed support for the Federal Government, Nigeria Governors’ Forum and the organised private sector in their conversations with the organised labour on a new minimum wage.

A communique arising from the meeting was read at a press briefing by Sanwo-Olu.

“The forum unanimously nominated and adopted the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, as its Chairman.

“The forum paid its last respects to its late Chairman, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi O. Akeredolu, SAN, CON, and also congratulated the new Governor of Ondo State, Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who also won the All Progressives Congress Governorship ticket for the next election,” he said

The governors adopted Ise wa fun ile wa (There is work to do in our land) as South West Anthem.

The forum also commended the House of Representatives for efforts toward the development of South West.

”The meeting commends the House of Representatives and South West caucus for their efforts at passing the South West Development Commission Bill and looks forward to its speedy passage by the Senate.

“We commend Mr President, Bola Tinubu, GCFR, on the groundbreaking of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road and the proposed Lagos to Sokoto Road and encourages the Federal Government for also rehabilitating other federal roads in the region,” Sanwo-Olu said.

On security, the forum unanimously re-affirmed its support for state police in order to complement the efforts of the Federal Government.

“On security, the forum commends the relative peace in the South West and notes the collaboration between all security agencies and the Amotekun Corps. It reaffirms its full support for state police.

“On food security, the forum acknowledges the efforts of the Federal Government, and decided that the Honourable Commissioners for Agriculture of all the states should begin to meet and set up a working template, which will ensure collaboration based on each state’s comparative advantage,” he said.

On Minimum Wage, the forum supports the efforts of the Federal Government, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and the organised private sector on their ongoing conversations with the labour union. We believe the outcome will reflect true fiscal federalism.

“The forum also encourages the Federal Government on mineral resources exploitation. There should be further collaboration between the Federal Government and the states, especially in granting leases to investors,” he said.

The forum also condemned agitating for a Yoruba nation.