The Comatose Southeast Governors’ Forum

By Dr. Uche Nworah
Does the Southeast Governors’ Forum, SEGF, still exist? When last did the governors of the five Southeast states meet to deliberate on issues of common regional interest? More importantly, what collective agenda are they currently pursuing for the economic development, security and wellbeing of the people of the Southeast?
These questions have become necessary when one considers what governors in other regions are doing through regional cooperation.
The governors of the North-East, for instance, are forging ahead with initiatives aimed at advancing their region. The North-East Governors’ Forum has reportedly raised N10.8 billion towards establishing a regional airline and is also pursuing the acquisition of 10,000 electric vehicles.
The Chairman of the North-East Governors’ Forum and Governor of Borno State, Professor Babagana Zulum, disclosed this at the opening of the 10th meeting of the Forum in Maiduguri.
According to him, the outstanding contributions are expected to be remitted before the end of October to facilitate the commencement of operations of the proposed North-East Air Shuttle.
He urged the governors of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe states to consolidate their commitments and work collectively towards the successful take-off of the regional carrier.
This is the kind of regional cooperation that should provoke serious reflection in the Southeast.
Beyond occasional meetings and communiqués, what are the flagship regional projects being jointly pursued by the five Southeast governors? Where is the coordinated agenda on regional transportation, rail development, security, power, industrialisation, agriculture, healthcare, tourism and investment?
The Southeast possesses enormous human and economic potential. But individual states acting alone can only achieve so much. There are projects whose scale, economics and strategic importance demand regional cooperation.
The Southeast Governors’ Forum should therefore become more visible, active and purposeful. Ndi Southeast deserve to know the Forum’s collective vision for the region and the concrete projects through which that vision will be realised. Southeast, ndo nu!