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The governors of Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Lagos, Ekiti and Ondo States met in Ibadan on Monday to discuss development of the region, irrespective of party affiliations.
Present at the meeting were Governors Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Ayo Fayose (Ekiti), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Akinwunmi Ambode (Lagos) and the host, Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo). The Ondo State governor, Olusegun Mimiko, was represented by the Secretary to the Ondo State Government (SSG) Mr Rotimi Adelola.
After the meeting which lasted for about 50 minutes, Fayose, who addressed the media, revealed that the six governors had agreed to shun party affiliations to work for the development of the South West region for the benefits of people in the region.
Newspeakonline however learnt that the meeting did not start smoothly as there was tension between Aregbesola and Amosun.
It was gathered that as soon as the meeting started behind closed door at about 12:30 pm, Amosun declared that he would leave by 1:00 pm. While his colleagues appealed to him to be patient to enable him to be part of what was to be discussed for every governor to see areas of commitment, Amosun was said to be furious and insisted on leaving at the dot of 1:00 pm.
He complained that a meeting slated for 11:00 am did not start until after 12:00 noon, stressing that he had many other important engagements to attend back in his state.
Irked by his unyielding stance, Aregbesola was said to have vehemently chided Amosun, wondering what was more important than the development of the entire region where Ogun State also falls. But it was gathered that Amosun did not issue any reply to Aregbesola’s outburst.
He changed his mind and waited till the end of the meeting. HE was however the first to leave after Fayose addressed the media on the outcome of the meeting.
Fayose described the meeting as very fruitful, saying: “Our session was very interactive and a number of issues were agreed upon in order to better the lot of our people. We need to start playing politics of development, politics that will bring food to the table of an average South Westerner.
“We have all agreed that beyond our differences the people must come first, the region must come first, and we must have unity of purpose beyound politics, an economic base that we can all be proud of regardless of our differences, and we have agreed to use this collaboration to improve on our infrastructure, security, commerce, agriculture, and beyond. I am sure we will stand together to achieve this for the people.
“Yes, we know we cannot finish it all but we must be seen to be doing it. We must be seen to bell the cat and sustain the gain for our people. All states including Ekiti have subscribed, agreed that regional integration is the best and the way for our people and we shall do everything humanly possible not to go back. It is forward for South West, it is forward for the people, and forward for the Yoruba race.
“The next meeting will come up in the next three months in Ekiti State, and I want to believe we are all looking forward to it.”
Many believe that the confrontation between the two governors may not be unrelated to their alleged political differences.
Amosun is alleged to be currently coordinating the political intrigues against the interest of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in South West. He is said to be very close to President Muhammadu Buhari and he is accused of not looking back in working against Tinubu’s interest in the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the region.
The activities, analysts said, have made Aregbesola, Tinubu’s staunch supporter, nurse acrimony against his Ogun State counterpart.
The outburst has been interpreted to be a result of the silent anger against Amosun, a situation that may continue.