Southern Govs Forum: Abiodun Emerges New Chairman, Soludo Now Vice-Chair
Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State has emerged as the new Chairman of the Southern Governors Forum (SGF).
He will be assisted by Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State, who got his colleagues’s nod as the Forum’s Vice Chairman
Abiodun and Soludo emerged as part of the decisions taken at the Southern Governors Forum’s meeting held at the Presidential Lodge, GRA Ibara, Abeokuta on Monday, June 24, 2024.
Their emergence was officially announced by the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwoolu.
Available reports indicated that 16 out of the 17 governors that constitute the Southern Governors Forum were at the meeting with only Governor Similayi Fubara of Rivers State conspicuously absent at the meeting.
The reports said some of the governors were physically present at the meeting, while others were represented by their deputies.
Those who physically attended the meeting are Babajide Sanwoolu (Lagos), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti), Alex Otti (Abia), Godwin Obaseki (Edo), and Ademola Adeleke (Osun).
Others include Bassey Otu (Cross River), Charles Soludo (Anambra), Francis Nwifuru (Ebonyi), Peter Mbah (Enugu), Duoye Diri (Bayelsa), and Uno Eno (Akwa Ibom).
The Deputy Governors who represented their bosses at the meeting were, Chinyere Ekomaru (Imo), Monday Onyeme (Delta), and Olayide Adelami (Ondo).
Addressing journalists on the meeting’s outcome, Governor Abiodun commended his colleagues, for electing him as the Forum’s Chairman.
The Ogun State Governor said; “It is indeed an honour and a humble one at that, that I have been nominated to lead the Southern Governors’ Forum, alongside Professor Charles Soludo, the Governor of Anambra State as the Vice Chairman of this forum.
“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.
“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.”
