Governors of the 17 southern states met on Wednesday in Ogun State to review pressing regional concerns and renew their collective call for the creation of state police as insecurity intensifies across the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The meeting, hosted by Ogun State governor and chairman of the Southern Governors\u2019 Forum (SGF), Prince Dapo Abiodun, took place at his private residence in Iperu Remo, Ikenne Local Government Area. It focused on strengthening regional cooperation, harmonising development priorities, and reinforcing political collaboration with traditional institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In his opening remarks, Abiodun said the gathering reflected more than shared geography\u2014describing it as a union built on \u201ccommon aspirations, shared challenges, and a collective commitment to a stable and prosperous future for the southern region.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He noted that the spirit of unity that once guided the old Southern Protectorate remained relevant today, adding that such historical consciousness was vital in navigating the complexities of Nigeria\u2019s current federal structure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Abiodun stressed that the worsening security situation and economic pressures placed Nigeria at a decisive moment that required coordinated regional leadership. According to him, recent mass abductions in schools, worship centres, and rural communities proved that \u201cno region is insulated from organised criminality or violent extremism.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Governors present included Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers), Alex Otti (Abia), Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti), Francis Nwifuru (Ebonyi), Peter Mbah (Enugu), Charles Soludo (Anambra), Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), and Lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo). Others joined through their deputies: Kola Adewusi (Osun), Bayo Lawal (Oyo), Peter Odey (Cross River), and Dennis Idahosa (Edo).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Against the backdrop of rising threats, Abiodun reaffirmed that the Forum\u2019s long-standing demand for state police was non-negotiable.
He argued that decentralised policing was necessary for proactive intelligence gathering, securing border communities, strengthening safe-school systems, and addressing rapidly evolving criminal activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe creation of state police remains essential to achieving true federalism and ensuring effective grassroots security,\u201d he said. \u201cA policing system closer to the people, more responsive to local realities, and equipped to tackle emerging threats is now an urgent national imperative.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Abiodun added that a unified southern stance on state police would significantly enhance protection of schools, farmlands, critical infrastructure, and border corridors across the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He also commended President Bola Tinubu for what he described as transformative steps toward national development, praising his administration\u2019s \u201cRenewed Hope\u201d reforms and decisive intervention in recent school abductions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to him, Tinubu\u2019s choice to personally oversee rescue operations demonstrated a rare commitment to safeguarding citizens. He said the successful rescue efforts reflected a more coordinated and intelligence-driven national security response.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe President\u2019s swift action reminds us that leadership is measured not only by policy but also by empathy, urgency, and decisive intervention,\u201d Abiodun said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Governors\u2019 Forum is expected to meet with the Southern Nigeria Traditional Rulers Council immediately after its session. A communiqu\u00e9 outlining resolutions from both meetings will be released thereafter.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Governors of the 17 southern states met on Wednesday in Ogun State to review pressing regional concerns and renew their collective call for the creation of state police as insecurity…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":18538,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18536","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pages"],"yoast_head":"\n