Politics
17 Southern Governors, Traditional Rulers Hold Strategic Meeting in Ogun
The Southern Governors’ Forum on Wednesday convened in Iperu, Ogun State, for a high-level meeting aimed at strengthening regional cooperation and addressing critical national issues affecting the southern part of Nigeria.
The gathering, hosted at the Iperu residence of Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, brings together 17 governors from the South-East, South-South, and South-West, along with leading members of the Southern Traditional Rulers Council.
The meeting was announced in a statement by Kayode Akinmade, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to Governor Abiodun. It is expected to spotlight security coordination, economic integration, fiscal matters, state policing, constitutional reforms, and other shared challenges impacting the region.
Governors, Monarchs Arrive for Joint Session
According to the schedule released, the governors will hold a joint session with the Southern Traditional Rulers Council at 1pm, a move designed to deepen collaboration between political leaders and traditional institutions.
Ahead of the session, notable attendees, including governors and first-class monarchs from across the region, arrived in Ogun State to a warm reception from the host government. Their arrival underscores growing consensus on the need for unified regional action amid ongoing security and socio-economic pressures.
Abiodun: ‘We Value the Guidance of Our Royal Fathers’
Governor Dapo Abiodun, in a post on X earlier today, expressed delight at hosting the forum, emphasizing the importance of harmonizing regional priorities.
He said:
“As we prepare to host the Southern Governors’ Forum meeting today, we were pleased to receive some of the distinguished attendees, particularly traditional rulers and respected leaders from across the southern region.”
“Their visit offered us the opportunity to deepen ongoing engagements and align our shared expectations ahead of the gathering.
We value the presence of our royal fathers and regional leaders, whose wisdom and guidance continue to enrich our processes.”
Abiodun added that Ogun State remains committed to creating an atmosphere conducive to honest dialogue, strategic cooperation, and strengthened regional unity.
Key Issues on the Agenda
Although the forum’s full communique will be released at the end of the meeting, discussions are expected to focus on:
- Regional security coordination, including support for state policing
- Economic cooperation, trade expansion, and shared infrastructure
- Boundary and inter-state dispute resolution
- Strengthening ties with traditional institutions to improve community governance
- Review of national policies impacting the southern region
The meeting is one of the most significant southern regional gatherings in recent years, bringing together a powerful coalition of elected leaders and traditional authorities at a time when Nigeria faces tightening economic conditions and widespread security concerns.
More updates and resolutions from the closed-door deliberations are expected later today.
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