Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has been unanimously elected as the Chairman of the South-West Governors’ Forum.

The six governors from the South-West states – Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Ademola Adeleke (Osun), Lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), and Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti) – elected Sanwo-Olu at a meeting at the Lagos House in Ikeja on Monday, June 10, 2024.

Sanwo-Olu replaced the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, who, as the chairman of the Forum, championed the Amotekun cause.

The governors, at the meeting which lasted for about three hours, expressed support for the federal government, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, and the Organised Private Sector in their conversations with the Organised Labour on a new minimum wage.

A communique issued at the end of the meeting was read at a press briefing by Sanwo-Olu.

He said: “The Forum unanimously nominated and adopted the governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, as its Chairman.

“The forum paid its last respects to its late Chairman, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi O. Akeredolu, SAN, CON, and also congratulated the new Governor of Ondo State, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who also won the All Progressives Congress governorship ticket for the next election.”

The governors also adopted ise wa fun ile wa (There is work to do in our land) as South-West Anthem.

South-West governors meet in Lagos

The governors further commended the House of Representatives for efforts toward the development of South-West.

Sanwo-Olu added: “The meeting commends the House of Representatives and South-West caucus for their efforts at passing the South-West Development Commission Bill, and looks forward to its speedy passage by the Senate.

“We commend Mr President, Bola Tinubu, GCFR, on the groundbreaking of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road and the proposed Lagos to Sokoto Road, and encourage the federal government for also rehabilitating other federal roads in the region.”

On security, the governors unanimously reaffirmed their support for state police in order to complement the efforts of the federal government.

He said: “On food security, the Forum acknowledges the efforts of the federal government, and decided that the Honourable Commissioners for Agriculture of all the states should begin to meet and set up a working template, which will ensure collaboration based on each state’s comparative advantage.

“On minimum wage, the Forum supports the efforts of the federal government, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and the Organised Private Sector on their ongoing conversations with the labour union. We believe the outcome will reflect true fiscal federalism.

“The Forum also encourages the federal government on mineral resources exploitation. There should be further collaboration between the federal government and the states, especially in granting leases to investors.”

Sanwo-OluThe Star