The Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, Rotimi Amaechi, has disclosed that 31 state governors, including those from the northern part of the country agreed on state police.
He, however, expressed surprise at the u-turn made by Northern Governors’ Forum on the issue.
The Forum, led by Niger State Governor, Alhaji Babangida Aliyu, had said governors in the north would never support state police.
Amaechi, who is also the Governor of Rivers State, revealed this on Friday night, while opening the Forum of the Federated Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists at Ikwerre Road, Port Harcourt.
He said the NGF would meet on Tuesday to decide on state police, single term and other issues.
The Rivers State governor also described the declaration of Ogoni Autonomy Day by Mr. Goodluck Diigbo on Thursday as a treasonable felony.
He said the initiator of the Autonomy Day (Diigbo) “would run into the bush” if attempts were made to ask him questions.
“On Ogoni autonomy, I wish them well. Ogoni autonomy is not achievable.
The man (Diigbo) who declared Ogoni autonomy will run into the bush tomorrow morning. What Diigbo is doing is treasonable felony. You do not declare autonomy on the pages of newspapers and magazines or on radio and television,” Amaechi said.
The Chairman of MOSOP Provisional Council, Prof. Ben Naanen, and other authentic Ogoni leaders immediately disowned the declaration of the Autonomy Day by Diigbo, insisting that Ogoni people were not for sovereignty.
The Ogoni leaders noted that they wanted the creation of Bori State out of the present Rivers State as well as the effective implementation of the recommendations contained in the United Nations Environment Programme report on Ogoniland, submitted to President Goodluck Jonathan in August last year.
They urged the government to take lawful measures to check Diigbo’s anti-state activities and protect lives and property in Ogoniland.
