•Reaffirm commitment to one Nigeria
Christopher Isiguzo and Gideon Arinze in Enugu
Leaders from the South-east zone, yesterday, announced the setting up of different committees to engage agitating youths in the area as part of new initiatives for a lasting peace. This followed a meeting in Enugu State.
The leaders, who met for the second time in two weeks, reaffirmed their commitment to a united Nigeria, and rejected the agitation by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) for a Republic of Biafra.
According to a communiqué read by the chairman of South-east Governors Forum and Governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi, the South-east leaders said in order not to manage the situation in the zone, they “have set up a committee to engage such youths to stop and allow elders speak to address such fears”.
Regarding the safety of the Igbo in other parts of the country, and the newly established regional security outfit, the communiqué said the “meeting directed our governors and Ohaneze Ndigbo to liaise with indigenes from the northern part of Nigeria and indigenes of other regions to assure the nation, Nigeria, and their people of their safety in South-east.”
The committees set up, according to the communiqué, were those on “agitation; engagement with other regions; those of our people in the North, South-east, South-south and South-west; IPOB, MASSOB, youths and market people, Okada and Keke; diaspora; advocacy; and diplomatic engagement with foreign missions.”
The meeting was a follow-up to the one the leaders held with the presidential delegation, led by the Minister of Defence, Maj.Gen. Bashir Magashi (rtd), on June 11, in the wake of the rising insecurity in the region.
Umahi, who read from the communiqué said, the leaders had reaffirmed their commitment to one nation built on fairness, love and respect for one another. He added that the committees were to help articulate the demands of the region, particularly as it relates to insecurity, and meet with the federal government.
The governor regretted that although leaders in the South-east had reassured people from other regions of their safety, Ndigbo were still being threatened, especially, in the north.
“We call on leaders in other regions to take note of the threats and take proper action,” he said, adding that the leaders condemned the killing of security operatives and destruction of security facilities in the zone.
He maintained that the impression that leaders in the zone were silent over the rising wave of agitation was, wrong as they had come out publicly to speak against the agitations.
Umahi said, “We have again endorsed Ebubeagu and asked them to work with security agencies to ensure the protection of lives and property of the people in the South-east.”
He called on security operatives working in the region to operate within the confines of the law.
Those present at the meeting included the host, Governor of Enugu State, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu; Deputy Governors of Anambra and Imo states, Dr. Nkem Okeke and Prof. Placid Njoku, respectively; Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe; Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige; and Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Hon. Uchechukwu Ogah.
Others were President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Ambassador George Obiozor; former President of the Senate, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim; former Governor of old Enugu State, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo; former Governor of Ebonyi State, Senator Sam Egwu; former Governor of Imo State, Chief Ikedi Ohakim; and former Military Administrator of old Anambra State, Rear Admiral Allison Madueke.
In attendance also were Speaker of Enugu State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Edward Ubosi; Senator Ike Ekweremadu, Deputy Minority Leader, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Toby Okechukwu; Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyawu; Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Most Rev. Callistus Onaga; Archbishop of Enugu Ecclesiastical Province, Most. Rev. Dr. Emmanuel O. Chukwuma; Chairman, Enugu State Traditional Rulers’ Council, HRH Igwe Lawrence Agubuzu; immediate past President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo; and Professor Chinedu Nebo, among others.
