Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State ( right) Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, and Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State, left, during a meeting of the Governors and Stakeholders from the South East zone, held at the Government House, Enugu …on Sunday.
Igbo leaders have resolved to send a delegation to President Muhqammadu Buhari to discuss the recrudescence of agitations for the sovereignty of the Ndigbo of the southeast geopolitical zone.
THE meeting of Igbo leaders summoned by the South East Governors’ Forum, on the security implications of the agitations by members of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, and the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, held in Enugu on Sunday.
They agreed to some leaders of the zone to the President to discuss on the marginalisation of Igbo in the country, which is the main trigger for the agitations.
President Buhari had at the weekend warned the agitations that he would not compromise Nigeria’s unity and therefore would allow acts which have tendency to balkanise the country.
.The leaders also agreed to dialogue with members of the MASSOB and IPOB groups with a view to ending the protests now rocking the old Eastern region.
Vanguard reports that the two factions of Ohanaeze were not however, part of the meeting as they were not invited as the governors had reasoned that inviting any of them would have meant legitimising such faction.
The Enwo Igariwey leadership of Ohanaeze had exhausted its tenure while the Ralph Obioha faction was not properly elected even as it was now the turn of Enugu State to produce the new chairman of the pan- Igbo group.
Both MASSOB and IPOB members have been agitating for the release of the Director of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, detained by security agents for running an illegal radio station.
Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, read four-point communique at the end of the meeting on behalf of his colleagues.
The communique reads, “We agreed that south-east governors should set up a committee to immediately address the impasse on Ohanaeze leadership. After a compassionate review of the recent MASSOB/IPOB agitations in the country, it was resolved that a committee be set up to dialogue with MASSOB,IPOB as well as the Federal Government with a view to finding a lasting solution to the issue.
“The elders also examined other issues including poor state of infrastructural facilities in the south-east, marginalization in federal appointments and other socio-economic issues that impact on the economic development of the south-east and resolved to support the decision of south-east governors to set up an economic council and urged them to interface with the Federal Government on remedial measures. A delegation of elders of the south-east was mandated to meet with the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Earlier in his welcome address, Governor Lawrence Ifeanyi Ugwanyi of Enugu State, said the meeting was a follow up to the earlier meeting of the South- East governors on November 17.
“The meeting is a follow up to the meeting of the SEGF that we held last Tuesday, November 17, 2015, in this venue during which we reached the following resolutions on some issues affecting us as a zone; To appoint a high level Economic Advisory Committee to harness the economic potentials of the people of the South East working together. The governors are concerned about the poor state of the Federal Government roads in the zone namely the Enugu – Onitsha, Aba- Ikot Ekpene , Owerri – Port Harcourt, Enugu – Port Harcourt, among others which need urgent intervention by the Federal Government.
“On security, the issue of MASSOB/ IPOB, was discussed and they resolved to consult widely with Ohanaeze (Ndigbo), traditional rulers, development unions, clergy, and other stakeholders on how to ensure lasting peace in the zone. In furtherance to this, the South East Governors scheduled an emergency meeting of stakeholders on Sunday, November 22, 2015, (yesterday) at Enugu.
“Attendance to the emergency meeting includes all National Assembly members, all honourable ministers and other invited stakeholders from the zone. The governors advised MASSOB/IPOB to continue to toe the line of peace as this is the only way to ensure economic development of the zone. We are therefore, here to discuss matters arising from these resolutions and other issues that are of interest to the zone. We ask God to guide and direct our thoughts as we go through this function and I wish us all, happy and fruitful deliberations.
“I warmly welcome my brother governors of the south east and indeed everyone present at this important meeting of southeast leaders and stakeholders.”
Roll call
Governors in attendance at the meeting included Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, (Enugu), Dave Umuahi (Ebonyi), Dr. Nkem Okeke (Deputy Governor, Anambra State) and Rochas Okorocha of Imo State.
Others were the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, former Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State, former Minister of Power, Prof Barth Nnaji, former Minister of Information, Chief Nnaia Nwodo and former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara among others
