Gov. Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta on Wednesday said plans were underway to create Southern Nigeria Governors Forum to enable them to discuss issues of common interest.
Uduaghan made this known at the 4th General Conference of the Southern Nigeria Peoples Assembly (SNPA) in Asaba.
He said the country would not disintegrate in spite of its numerous challenges.
According to Uduaghan, the South-South and the South-East governors were meeting to involve the South-West in the proposed forum.
“If we are able to deal with our political differences, we would be making a lot of moves and I want to assure everyone that the meeting will surely go on.
“This is because, apart from our political differences, there are issues that affect southern Nigeria that will be better resolved when the leaders of the regions meet”, he said.
The governor allayed the lecturers’ fear of disintegration of the country, “because President Goodluck Jonathan was handling all the challenges with sincerity and maturity.’’
He said that one of such was Boko Haram whose activities had been reduced and expressed optimism that the militant group would embrace peace.
“The Jonathan administration has done a lot to improve the nation’s economy and engendered a lot of growth and foreign direct investments and interest.
“The benefits of the economic growth will take some time to trickle down to the masses.
“The national conference has provided platform for us to discuss and we are free to say anything in this world, except the disintegration of Nigeria.
“It is only when we discuss that issues are resolved’’, he said.
He advised the people of Southern Nigeria to be prepared to make their points known at the national conference.
“So, we should be hopeful and positive, because the future of Nigeria is bright.
“Nigeria will not disintegrate in the era of President Goodluck Jonathan and no ravaging fire of ethnic nationalism can consume this country’’, Uduaghan stressed.
