By Christopher Isiguzo in Enugu
Governors of the South-east states rose from a closed door meeting in Enugu yesterday with a resolve to reach out to the federal government in order to devise amicable ways of resolving the continued detention of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
Addressing journalists after their meeting at the Government House, Enugu, Chairman of the forum and Governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi, said they resolved to also meet with appropriate authorities of the federal government so as to address other challenges facing the zone.
Some of the major issues to be tabled before the federal government, according to them, include agitations by some pro-Biafran groups including MASSOB, IPOB as well as other issues that border on security, ecological disasters, power and dams.
The meeting which attended by all the governors of the zone with the exception of Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, who also agreed to meet with all stakeholders of the zone to discuss and address all issues that are of interest to their people.
The governors also set up an economic team made up of two representatives each from the five states to fashion out the roadmap towards the economic integration of the zone.
Umahi said the team would be expected to meet in the coming weeks in order to ensure that they present a road map “for our economic indices and development in our next meeting.”
He further disclosed that the forum had opened a secretariat at the Enugu Government House in order to facilitate its activities.
The Ebonyi State governor used the opportunity to dismiss as false media reports of a fire outbreak at the Ebonyi State Government House.
He said there was a minor incident in the office of the Chief of Staff where the air conditioner reportedly malfunctioned.
