Asaba accord: Buhari can’t push southern govs aside — Akeredolu

Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu Thursday said President Muhammadu Buhari must consider the southern governors’ demand for a national dialogue and establishment of state police.

The governors of the 17 southern states had, in their meeting in Asaba, Delta State, on Tuesday urged Buhari to convene a national dialogue and resolved to ban open grazing in the south, among other resolutions.

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In an interview on ARISE TV, Akeredolu justified the demands of the governors, saying some of their counterparts in the north were in support of the resolutions.

“Getting a presidential buy-in might be some cause for concern, but 17 governors from the south. I believe that whatever we’ve said should be given some weight, it must be something that has to be considered. That means the presidency will look at it and consider it. The number is large. It’s more or less like half of us.

“I know if we had called our brothers in the Middle Belt, they’d have signed up to this. I even know there are some of our brothers even in the north that would’ve signed up to this communique, who also believe that the time has come for us to have dialogue.

“I know Mr President. It has to be considered. It must be considered. Because the number of governors involved is not one you can just push aside. When you talk about this dialogue, it’s a matter of serious concern to us. It’s not a parlor gossip. It’s a matter that came from serious, in-depth discussion of governors.”