By Austin Ogwuda
GOVERNORS of Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross Rivers, Edo and Delta under the auspices of (BRACED) Commission on Tuesday called on the Federal government “to properly define the missions of troops that have been deployed to our region”.
The Commission which met at Yenogoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria, in a communique which was read by the Governor of Edo State, Mr Godwin Obaseki stated that “their (Military) involvement in communities’ boundary disputes, business or family disputes should not be part of Military operational mission.
“We also appeal to the Military to allow the villagers who have been displaced to return home and resume their normal life.
“Council condemned the killing of 17 Military officers in Okuama and expresses its condolences to the Commander-in-Chief, the Military hierarchy and specially the family of the diseased officers.
” We call on the Federal Government to set up a high-powered Commission of Inquiry to unearth what transpired in other to avoid such occurrences in the future.
*Council calls on Federal Government to expedite work from the East/West Road. We thank Mr. President, President Ahmed Tinubu for commencing the construction of the coastal road from Lagos to Calabar, and appealed for speedy completion of the road and that work should also commence on the other end.
*We commend the Federal Government for the establishment of the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) and we are looking forward to working with this agency to improve the economic development of the region particularly in the area of Agro-preneurship and food sufficiency.
* The council noted the persistent poor state of electricity in our region despite the huge investment in the power sector by successive governments. We therefore call on the power companies operating in our region to work more closely with the state governments to ensure the operationalisation of the new electricity act of 2023.
We call on the Federal Government to embark on a comprehensive review of the power sector reform particularly with reference to transmission of electricity.
*At the meeting, the Council highlighted need for members of the BRACED Commission to device better regional transport connection through road, rail, water and air systems.
Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori was represented at the meeting by the State Deputy, Sir Monday Onyeme.
*Caption: Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki reading out the resolutions of the Commission.
