He was elected yesterday during the forum’s meeting in Government House, Yenagoa.
Cross River Governor, Bassey Otu, was returned as vice chairman.
Governor of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori, nominated Diri, while his Rivers State counterpart, Siminalayi Fubara, seconded it.
Responding, Diri said his emergence was a call to higher service, and promised to serve the forum and the region diligently.
He said it was not an office for him alone, but a collective task for all governors of the oil-rich region to move the area forward.
Diri stated that the forum would go beyond issuing communiques to taking action on critical issues that affect the region’s development.
His words: “Working together, we have all resolved that our region will not fail. We have seen other regions working, while our region was quiet.”
In his acceptance speech, the Bayelsa helmsman said the objectives of the forum include “fostering greater synergy among our states, and advance regional investments in critical sectors such as security, agriculture, education, power, environment, tourism, and youth empowerment through sports, ICT and entrepreneurship.”
He noted that it has become imperative to speak with one voice in view of the swiftly changing landscape of the country, and the world at large.
According to him, leveraging the strengths and resources of each member state, they could design and implement targeted initiatives that foster sustainable development and prosperity.
