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FG Out to Discredit Us – Southern Govs
By Tokunbo Adedoja in Lagos and Omon-Julius Onabu in Benin-City, 12.04.2004
Corruption
The 17 southern governors yesterday rose from a meeting in Benin-city, Edo State, declaring that the Federal Government was all out to “malign” state governors through sustained and deliberate efforts of its officials to create an impression that corruption exists only at the state level. The governors, who expressed the need for the states and the Federal Government to collectively promote and ensure the sustenance of democracy and the corporate existence of the nation, said maligning state governors was not only unfair but it could also discredit government and promote lawlessness. In a communiqué issued at the end of their summit, which was read by the Edo State Governor, Chief Lucky Igbinedion, they said discrediting governors could also make it impossible for them to attract foreign investment or be taken seriously around the world. The Southern governors also revisited the issue of state police, maintaining that the major factor responsible for widespread security lapses in the country is the inability of state governors to take full charge of security operatives in their respective states. They noted that the recent mayhem in Anambra state has further justified the need for the establishment of state police and the constitutional amendment that would make State Commissioners of Police responsible to their respective governors who are chief security officers of their respective states. The meeting, which was presided over by Governor Igbinedion, had in attendance 15 southern governors while those of Rivers and Ebonyi states were represented by their deputies. Apart from this, they wondered why the federal government has found it difficult to separate the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation from that of the Accountant General of the Federal Government inspite efforts made at achieving this. The governors resolved to revisit the issue at the National Economic Council meeting and also work with members of the National Assembly to ensure the passage of the necessary enabling law in the interest of justice, fairness and objectivity. The governors also faulted the existing situation whereby state governors do not know how much their states owe foreign creditors, the rate of interest and extent of payment, resolving that henceforth, states should be enabled to verify, authenticate the records and to participate in the rescheduling and refinancing of the debts attributed to them. "It was observed that some monies being deducted by the federal Government on account of Foreign debts owed by states are not being remitted to creditors. The current situation whereby state governors do not know the exact amount owed, rate of interest, extent of repayment and balance to be paid is most undesirable and inimical to the economic interests of the states", the governors stated. While taking note of the resolution of the Northern Governors' Forum that the Presidency should go back to the North in 2007, the summit resolved that the choice of a presidential candidate is one that should be made by each party based on consideration of equity, fairplay, competence, justice, and relevant historical factors. They observed that contrary to the expectations of the 1999 constitution that the new revenue allocation formula was yet to be presented to the National Assembly consequently leading to the application of the pre-1999 formula. The governors consequently resolved to persuade President Olusegun Obasanjo to forward the new revenue formula proposal to the National Assembly. The governors also hinged the clamour for and proliferation of local governments on the fact that said that the number of Local Governments is used as an index for revenue allocation and advocated that such should be discontinued. On the national census slated for next year, they urged the federal government to ensure accurate headcount maintaining that only an accurate statistics ensure effective and successful national planning. They also advised the federal government to seek technical and monitoring support from the United Nations and other international agencies towards achieving an accurate and reliable census. On the Anambra violent crisis, while calling on law enforcement and security agencies to arrest and prosecute all those that had been identified as perpetrators and sponsors of the mayhem in the state, the governors called on the federal government to give special assistance to the state towards restoring public properties destroyed.
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