As southern governors strategise against insecurity…

Last week, the governors of the 17 Southern states under the aegis of Southern Governors’ Forum met in Iperu, Ogun State. The meeting, coming after the historic Asaba declaration of 2021, highlighted key issues of national concern. BIOLUWATIFE AKINYEMI, in this piece, assessed the gathering and the resolutions.

In a critical gathering that captured national attention, the governors of the South-West, South-East, and South-South geopolitical zones converged on Iperu, Ogun State on Wednesday November 26, to dissect issues they considered germane to national existence at this time. They also had in attendance members of the Southern Nigeria Traditional Rulers Council as they gathered at the residence of the Ogun State’s helmsman, Governor Dapo Abiodun. According to the organisers, the meeting was to serve as a platform to consolidate Southern political and security interests while reinforcing unity, governance coordination, and developmental cooperation.

The gathering at Iperu, coming some days after a meeting of the South-West Governors’ Forum in Ibadan, reflected a deliberate sequence of consultations that appear to underscore Southern commitment to national cohesion and security.

Birthing a formidable forum

The Southern Governors’ Forum first emerged in Lagos in October 2000, following a need to coordinate collective responses to contentious national issues at the time. Among these issues was the onshore/offshore dichotomy of oil revenue, communal clashes and rising insecurity. The oil controversy at the time determined whether states would receive derivation funds from minerals extracted within their territories. Under the 1999 Constitution, states were guaranteed a minimum of 13 per cent of revenue derived from minerals within their territories. However, offshore resources, such as crude oil located off the continental shelf, were claimed by the Federal Government, triggering disputes and litigation. The meeting also enabled the governors to agitate for the conduct of local government elections by the State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution.

There was contention between the Federal Government and the states as to when the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) could release the voters’ register but the states were insistent, prompting a united front on the issue.

Southern states collectively asserted their claim to a share of offshore revenues. As a result, successive Southern Governors’ meetings — including Lagos (2000), Enugu (2001), Benin (2001), Ibadan (2001), Owerri (2001), Port Harcourt (2002), and Akure (2002) — became platforms to coordinate legal, political, and legislative strategies. These meetings not only reinforced Southern unity but also created a formal space to advocate for decentralised governance, including the establishment of state police and the empowerment of local security structures.

Over the years, the Forum has also influenced national debates on fiscal federalism, regional development priorities, and intergovernmental cooperation. While political dynamics led to gaps in regular meetings between 2006 and 2017, the Southern Governors’ Forum remained an important vehicle for articulating regional positions, culminating in the Asaba Declaration of May 2021.

The Asaba declaration and its legacy

The Asaba Declaration marked a watershed in Southern political solidarity as governors from the 17 states of the South met in Asaba, Delta State to affirm their support for a Southern President in 2023. The governors, though from different political parties, spoke in unison at the gathering. They also articulated the necessity of state policing as a core element of effective federalism and restated their commitment to security, governance, and developmental issues.

The Declaration’s success lies in its enduring influence on policy discussions and its alignment with broader federal security initiatives. It also serves as a benchmark against which subsequent Southern Governors’ meetings — including Iperu — are measured.

At Iperu, the Asaba Declaration’s principles were revisited, signaling continuity and a strategic assessment of progress. The meeting reflected a renewed focus on security and governance frameworks, economic cooperation, and the political leverage that the Southern region wields in national decision-making.

Security takes centre stage

The Iperu meeting prioritised security, reflecting the heightened challenges faced by Southern Nigeria. The communiqué released at the close of the session extended condolences to President Bola Tinubu for recent military casualties in Borno State and abductions in Kebbi, Kwara, and Niger States, while acknowledging the successes of federal rescue operations at the different locations. Security chiefs from the Nigerian Army, Police, DSS, and NSCDC provided briefings on manpower gaps, equipment needs, intelligence coordination, and the integration of federal and state security initiatives.

Welcoming his colleague governors to the gathering, Governor Dapo Abiodun, who is also the chairman of the Forum, highlighted the significance of coordinated security architecture and the role of traditional rulers as custodians of local knowledge and community mediation. “By working hand in hand with traditional institutions, security agencies, and the communities they guide, we can reinforce collective identity that transcends geography and politics,” he said, referencing the Forum’s determination to operationalise a unified Southern security response.

The governor stated that the meeting went beyond geographical proximity, as according to him, it remained “a union defined by shared aspirations, common challenges, and a collective determination to build a future of stability and prosperity for our people.”

He added: “Our convergence today reflects the same spirit of unity and cooperation that guided our forefathers in the old Southern Protectorate long before the amalgamation of 1914. It is this historical consciousness that must continue to guide our collaborative efforts as we navigate the complex realities of our contemporary Nigerian federation.”

The governor told his colleagues that the Southern part of the country currently stands at a critical moment marked by rising security threats, economic pressures, and the urgent need for coordinated leadership, adding that the recent mass abductions in schools, religious centres, and rural communities across the country were clear demonstrations that no region is insulated from organised criminality or violent extremism.

While acknowledging the presence of traditional rulers at the gathering, he emphasised the need for the adoption of a new security architecture, adding that “the creation of State Police remains a non-negotiable component of our collective demand for true federalism and effective grassroots security.”

A key resolution from the meeting was the creation of a Zonal Security Fund, supported by regular coordination meetings among security advisers. Governors emphasised enhanced intelligence-sharing frameworks and the provision of modern communication tools for inter-state collaboration. They also advocated the establishment of state police as an essential mechanism for effective, decentralised, and community-focused security.

State policing and federal alignment

The political implications of the Iperu meeting are substantial. By reaffirming support for state policing, Southern Governors are seeking to align regional strategy with federal discourse, especially in light of President Tinubu’s recent declaration of a state of emergency on national security.

While the President’s declaration focuses on strengthening federal responses to insecurity, the Iperu meeting indicates that the Southern region is simultaneously pushing for localised authority and operational control, a nuanced stance that complements national policy while asserting regional agency. The resolution, coming on the heels of recent efforts to approve state policing at the federal level, may not be dropping in a vacuum as President Bola Tinubu had equally endorsed the need for a decentralised policing system in recent declarations.

This coordinated advocacy positions Southern Governors as influential stakeholders capable of shaping security legislation and operational frameworks. It also signals readiness to negotiate with the Federal Government on critical security reforms, ensuring that states have both the mandate and resources to protect their populations effectively.

Economic and developmental considerations

While security dominated political discourse, economic and developmental issues were also addressed. Abiodun emphasised the role of infrastructure in promoting regional growth and national integration, citing transformative projects such as the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway. The discussions acknowledged Southern Nigeria’s rich endowment of natural resources, including oil, gas, bitumen, limestone, and precious minerals, alongside a skilled and educated population.

The meeting highlighted the potential for coordinated industrial, agricultural, and mineral development strategies. By aligning development priorities across Southern states, Governors intend to boost regional productivity, generate employment, and strengthen the South’s position in national economic policy.

Institutional coordination and traditional authorities

A recurring theme in the Iperu meeting was the central role of traditional rulers. Governors resolved to formally integrate these institutions into state security councils, recognising their proximity to communities and their intelligence-gathering capacities. The communiqué emphasised that traditional authorities are critical to conflict prevention, early-warning systems, and community engagement.

By formalising these roles, Southern Governors aim to strengthen grassroots participation in security and governance, fostering a bottom-up approach that complements federal and state-level interventions. This model aligns with long-standing Southern advocacy for decentralised security, as originally articulated in early Forum meetings and reinforced in the Asaba Declaration.

Southern unity and national influence

The Iperu meeting demonstrated political continuity and strategic foresight. Southern Governors reaffirmed the principles of the Asaba Declaration while adapting them to contemporary challenges, particularly in security governance. By coordinating their positions on state policing, intelligence-sharing, and regional development, the South presents a united front capable of influencing federal policy, electoral considerations, and national security frameworks.

Historically, Southern Governors have leveraged the Forum to negotiate resource control, fiscal federalism, and political representation. The Iperu gathering continues this tradition, reinforcing the South’s position in national discourse while addressing immediate challenges such as abductions, banditry, and pipeline vandalism. It also emphasises proactive regional solutions, including community policing, corridor surveillance, rapid response funds, and joint security audits.

Looking Forward: Strategic Implications

Aside from security that took the central stage of the deliberations, the Iperu meeting signalled some far-reaching resolutions which hint at the determination of the SGF for a secured region. Some of the key resolutions include a coordinated push for state policing, which aligns with federal priorities while ensuring regional autonomy in security. Integrated security frameworks and intelligence-sharing, rapid response, and community partnerships demonstrate a holistic approach to crime prevention and crisis management.

Economic coordination: Infrastructure and natural resource development are being tied to political strategy, reinforcing Southern influence in national economic planning.

Institutional collaboration: Formal involvement of traditional rulers reflects a recognition of cultural authority as a stabilising and strategic force.

Electoral and federal implications: The meeting strengthens the South’s political leverage, signaling readiness to engage in policy negotiations and national discourse.

In essence, the Iperu gathering illustrates how Southern political coordination, grounded in decades of collaboration, continues to influence Nigeria’s governance and security architecture. As the country navigates evolving security challenges and economic pressures, the outcomes of the Iperu meeting provide a clear indicator of the South’s priorities, strategic thinking, and enduring influence. The forum demonstrates that while geography delineates states, shared history, common interests, and coordinated leadership define the Southern region’s collective power in Nigerian politics.