Again, Akpabio Shuns S’ South Govs Meeting

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Chief Godwill Akpabio on Saturday night stayed away from the meeting of the governors of the six states in the South South geo-political zone, held at Government House, Port Harcourt.

LEADERSHIP observed that the Saturday’s meeting was the second in the past one month, which Akpabio had absented himself from as the governors had met in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, June 14, 2011 where five governors present signed the BRACED Commission agreement.

Though, chairman of the South South Governors’ Forum and governor of Cross River State Liyel Imoke said Akpabio duly informed the forum that he would not be able to attend the June 14 meeting but, the press secretary to the Akwa Ibom State governor, Mr. Usoro Usoro told journalists on phone that his principal was not aware of the meeting.

The July 2, 2011 meeting, which began at about 9.30 pm ended three hours lateron Sunday morning, was attended by governors Timipre Sylva of Bayelsa, Liyel Imoke of Cross River, Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta, Adams Oshiomole of Edo and the host, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers.

Newsmen, who kept vigil at Government House, Port Harcourt to get the outcome of the governors’ meeting were0 disappointed when the acting chief press secretary to the host governor, Mr. Blessing Wikina announced to them at about 1.00 am that the governors decided not to brief the press.

However, a source told LEADERSHIP that the South South governors met to finalise arrangements for the forthcoming second South South Economic Summit scheduled to hold in Asaba, the Delta state capital between October 13 and October 15, 2011.

The source said the governors also discussed the possibility of fixing a strategic meeting of commissioners of Economic Development, Planning, Finance, Agriculture, Commerce, and Industry in the South South geo-political zone within the next 60 days as agreed in the communique of their June 14 meeting.