S’South goes for Rwanda model on conflict resolution, others

By The Guardian Newspaper

THE six states of the South South region in Nigeria are to tap the experiences of Rwanda in resolving their conflict, security challenges and economic problems in an emerging partnership between both parties.

Already, a delegation of the states including the chairman of the South South Governors Forum, Liyel Imoke of Cross River State and the Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, has met with President Paul Kagame of Rwanda to work out the modalities of the cooperation.

To cement this new partnership, Kagame will be in Nigeria later this month to give a talk during the Second Economic Summit of the South South states billed to hold in Asaba between April 26 and April 28.

Answering questions from journalists shortly after the delegation’s meeting with Kagame in Kigali on Tuesday evening, Uduaghan said that the region, under the BRACED Commission resolved to tap into the Rwandan experiences.

“We believe we should have someone who have had experience and success in crisis management and post-crisis management in tackling our peculiar situation hence the need to look in the direction of President Kagame and Rwanda,” he stated.

He said that the objective was to come together to see how the region could come out of the crisis situation to become an investment destination.

Besides, Uduaghan stressed that the mission was to ensure how the South South states could work together with Rwanda to develop the natural resources in the region for their economic growth.

His words: “We believe that the continent of Africa should first of all look inwards. What has been happening even from colonial era is that we have been waiting for others to come and develop us. But we have the natural resources and most importantly the human resources in Nigeria and Rwanda to be able to grow far beyond where we are now.”

Other members of the delegation at the Kigali meeting are the Director-General of the BRACED Commission, Amb. Joe Keshi and the Publisher of ThisDay Newspapers, Mr. Nduka Obaigbena.