Worried by unease in the region, Ohanaeze Ndigbo and south east governors met on Monday night and resolved to seek audience with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the state of insecurity in the zone.
Political Economist NG reports that Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu led elders in the region to the meeting which was held at the Imo State Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro Abuja.
Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma who is the Chairman of the South East Governors and Chairman Progressives Governors Forum was the hosted the meeting which had in attendance his Ebonyi State counterpart, Francis Nwifuru. The meeting lasted for about four hours.
Speaking with journalists after the meeting, Chief Iwuanyanwu said the governors agreed to work together, adding that they have highlighted strategies to address the sit-at-home order instigated by the Independent People of Biafra (IPOB) which he noted has paralysed socio-economic activities in the region.
Political Economist NG quotes Chief Iwuanyanwu as saying that insecurity was a national problem, not peculiar to the region and all hands must be on deck, beyond the zone to tackle it.
“Frankly speaking, I am not going to give you the details of what we want to do. The problem of insecurity is one that cannot be solved by the Southeast governors alone. We have resolved that the leadership of Ohanaeze, the governors and lawmakers get in touch with the President.
“The problem in South East is too much, is too big for the governors alone. It is a Nigerian problem and the president will give support to the governors,” Iwuanyanwu said.
Governor Uzodimma noted that security is on the exclusive federal list, adding that the type of insecurity in south east could not be handled by the five governors alone.
He said he would be leading his colleagues to the Presidential Villa to seek an audience with Tinubu to seek his cooperation so that peace could return to the region.
“The Federal Government in the past has supported us but we think that the federal government can do more. So among other resolutions, we resolved today to make a representation to the President for his intervention to be able to bring insecurity in the region to an end. So any moment from now, we’ll be putting together an arrangement to visit the president and discuss with him. There are certain things we cannot do very well without the federal government. Security is in the Exclusive List and only the federal government can deploy as appropriate.”
On why governors of Enugu, Anambra and Abia states were not in attendance, Uzodinnma said the meeting was impromptu but the gathering enjoyed the blessing of his colleagues.
He said: “That isn’t an issue, the decision to convene this meeting was impromptu. Don’t forget that I am the Chairman of South East Governors Forum and I represent all of them.”
