There are indications that all the seven governors of the North-Central geopolitical zone of the country may converge in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, on Monday, to discuss issues of mutual interest.
DAILY INDEPENDENT gathered that issues of insecurity may likely take priority at the meeting to be hosted by the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom today.
The meeting is holding in Makurdi even as lawyers in the state have perfected plans to boycott all court proceedings today in protest to the killing of one of their colleagues, Barr. Moses Udam by some armed bandits.
Governors that may likely be of the meeting are Abdullahi Sule, Nasarawa; Simon Lalong, Plateau; Yahaya Bello, Kogi; Darius Ishaku of Taraba; Abubakar Bello, Niger and Abdulrahman Abdulrazak from Kwara State.
Competent sources within government circle told DAILY INDEPENDENT in Makurdi on Sunday that other matter slated for discussion is issues bordering on the economy as it affects the geopolitical zone.
The Governors are also expected to discuss modalities to raise Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) during the recession to meet other obligations of governance in their respective states.
The source said, “Top on the agenda for the meeting are security and the economy of North-Central States, particularly ways governments of the region can raise IGR for greater development of their respective States.”
However, INDEPENDENT gathered that the challenge of insecurity may overshadow other issues billed to be discussed, as most of the Governors believe that nothing can strive in an environment laden with insecurity.
Ortom has particularly been outspoken on issues of insecurity he had at different forum described as senseless killing of innocent people in the state.
Recently the experienced series of killings, every week, which claimed the lives of about ten persons in the last three weeks.
The most recent was the killing of Barr. Moses Udam, his pregnant wife, Nkechi and a blind elderly man, Baba Nyikyor Mazugu by suspected herdsmen at Agbohul, Makurdi Local Government Area (LGA) of the state last week.
Daily Independent