By Emmanuel Uzodinma Southeast leaders, on Saturday, expressed concern over threats against Ndigbo living in other parts of the coun...
By Emmanuel Uzodinma
Southeast leaders, on Saturday, expressed concern over
threats against Ndigbo living in other parts of the country.
They made their feelings known during an enlarged meeting
between the Southeast Governors’ Forum, Federal and State lawmakers, ministers,
religious and traditional leaders, as well as the Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
DAILY POST reports that the meeting is a follow up to the
consultation the Presidential delegation, led by the Minister of Defence, rtd
Maj.Gen. Bashir Magashi, had with leaders in the zone, on June 11, following
rising insecurity in the region.
Chairman of the South East Governors’ Forum and Ebonyi State
Governor, Dave Umahi, who read the communiqué issued after the meeting, said
the leaders reaffirmed their commitment to one nation built on fairness, love
and respect for one another.
He, however, said the zone was saddened by threats against
Ndigbo, calling on leaders of other regions in the country to rise to the
occasion.
“We have noted threats by some groups in some other regions
against our people of South East. While we firmly promise to protect everyone
either from our own region or other regions living in our place, we call on
leaders in other regions to take note of the threats and take proper action,”
he said.
The communiqué disclosed that the meeting consequently “set
up committees under Ohaneze Ndigbo to articulate and address our positions on
all burning issues to further meet among ourselves and thereafter meet with the
Presidential team”.
It added that South-East leaders condemned the killing of
security agents, burning of strategic infrastructure and killing of civilians
in South East and in other regions, and requested the security agencies to
discharge their duties within the rules of engagement and the law.
The South-East leaders also condemned in totality, the
activities of violent secessionist groups in the zone and elsewhere,
proclaiming firmly that “we do not support them, they do not speak for
South-East”.
On the impression that South East leaders are silent over
agitations for secession by some youths of the region, they stated that “is not
correct”, stressing that “South East Governors, Ohaneze President, National
Assembly members, notable leader had come out publicly many times in the past to
speak against such agitations”.
The communiqué revealed that South East leaders, in order
not to mismanage the unfortunate situation, “have set up a committee to engage
such youths to stop and allow elders speak to address such fears”.
On the safety of the Igbo indigenes in other parts of the
country and the newly established regional security outfit, etc, the communiqué
added that 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 that the nation, Nigeria, and their people of their safety in South
East.
“The meeting endorsed
our South East joint security outfit – Ebubeagu and asked them to work with
security agencies and to respect the rights and privileges of all those living
in the South East and our visitors.
“We request our National Assembly from the South East to
support State Police creation in the on-going constitutional amendment.”
The Committees set up, according to the communiqué, are
“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”.
Those present at the meeting include the host Governor of
Enugu State, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie
Ikpeazu, Deputy Governors of Anambra and Imo states, Dr. Nkem Okeke and Prof.
Placid Njoku respectively, the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya
Abaribe, Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Dr. Chris Ngige, the
Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Hon. Uchechukwu Ogah,
President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Amb. 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.
Also in attendance were the Speaker of Enugu State House of
Assembly, Rt. Hon. Edward Ubosi; Senator Ike Ekweremadu, the 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 Amb.
Lawrence Agubuzu, immediate past President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief
Nnia Nwodo, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, among others.
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