By Dan Amor
Undoubtedly, the emergence of brilliant, energetic and dynamic young men as governors in the South South States of Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, and Delta, following the 2019 governorship election is evidence of what God has in stock for the oil producing but largely neglected Niger Delta region. The governorship election couldn't hold abinitio in the two South South States of Bayelsa and Edo because the tenure of their governors had not expired then. The Bayelsa state governorship election was eventually held and Duoye Diri emerged the winner after the Supreme Court case while Gov Godwin Obaseki was declared winner for his second term after the 2020 governorship election in Edo state.
In all, governors of the six South South States are: Chief Duoye Diri, Bayelsa; Hon. Nyesom Wike, Rivers; Mr. Udom Emmanuel, Akwa Ibom; Prof. (Sen.) Benedict Ayade, Cross River; Mr. Godwin Obaseki, Edo; and Sen. Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, Delta. While acknowledging Their Excellencies' well-deserved victories at the polls and commending them for the vigour with which they have started their new assignments since their assumption of office, yours sincerely is inclined to observe that the task ahead is enormous and demands hardwork, resoluteness and team spirit to accomplish. But there must be regional integration in the South South. It is overdue for this development template.
