All six Governors of the South-South would on Monday 16th November 2020 converge in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital as Governor Nyesom Wike will be hosting his counterparts from other States in the region to define the status of other States of the Federation vis-à-vis the large deposit of gold found and already exploited in Zamfara State
“The governors are looking towards taking a common decision on the Zamfara gold issue on Monday. This decision will be forwarded to President Buhari. South-south states also want ‘artisanal’ mining of oil,” added the source.
Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, had last Wednesday expressed worry at “federal government’s apparent tacit endorsement of the decision of Zamfara State to assume exclusive right to solid minerals in the state, particularly the gold deposits.”
Okowa then hinted that the South-south governors were planning a meeting over the issue and that they were unanimous on the need to address the constitutionality of the alleged Zamfara government’s action.
In a veiled reference to the federal government’s support for “artisanal mining of gold”, particularly with President Muhammadu Buhari’s inauguration of the Presidential Artisanal Gold Mining Development Initiative, Okowa vowed that the South-south states would resist “such a discriminatory disposition, that runs foul of the constitutional provision on ownership of mining rights in Nigeria.”
Okowa, who is the Chairman of the Forum, assured that the governors were united in their support for unattended issues of restructuring and devolution of more powers, as well as resources down to the local government level.
Okowa said, “The South-south governors have been in the forefront for the devolution of power to states and local governments. Restructuring, resource control and security of the country, especially in the Niger Delta will be a major topic of discussion at the Presidential parley coming up in Port Harcourt.
