Politics in Nigeria has always seemed to be a game of players who are never trustworthy. Most ordinary Nigerians have given up on the hope of the country getting better because of the way of life of the politicians. In most cases, Nigerian politicians are too partisan to deliver dividends of democracy to the people. Partiality is the order if the other.
However, the development of new face of synergy amongst the Southern governors must have taken everyone by surprise. No one would imagine there would come a time when the multicultural southern region would come together to have one political voice. This might be like a movie but we are living in it.
The unity of Southern governors did not just start on its own. National/regional insecurity was the catalyst that triggered this unity of the governors.
Some months ago, the barbarism of some foreign Fulani herdsmen became a national threat. What had started as herders-farmers clashes gradually transcended into full-blown pandemonium. The herdsmen, wanting more lands, continued to unleash attacks on their host communities. Thus, the governors have to stand up for their people.
This prompted the very first meeting of Southern governors in recent time at Asaba, Delta State. The governors agreed on banning open-grazing in their respective states and demanded for establishment of State Police. This action generated reactions from Northern elites. The open-graze ban has already been implemented by most Southern states.
Today, the governors of Southern Nigeria met yet again. They met in Enugu where they advanced their synergy from security to economic decisions.
Most Nigerians are of the view that the North is parasitic to the Southern Nigeria. Recently, Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers State expressed his dissatisfaction with the nature of federalism practiced in Nigeria. He remarked that some people are working for other lazy people in another part of the country.
The governor queried why a particular state would receive less than 50% of its contribution to the national revenue. He went ahead to sign into law that Rivers State manage her own Value Added Tax (VAT). Lagos State has also followed suit in this regard.
Today, the governors of Southern Nigeria have agreed to be independent in management of their own VAT.
“We resolved to support the position that the collection of VAT falls within the powers of the state,” Gov. Akeredolu said as reported by the Premium Times.
Secondly, the governors reiterated their position that the next President of Nigeria should come from the South so as to ensure a political clime of justice and equity.
The Northern governors and the Federal Government of Nigeria are yet to react to the new development. It is very likely that the elites of Northern Nigeria will kick against State collection of VAT. But most importantly, we await the reaction of the Federal Government.