By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
Pained by the level of killings and unrest in the their domain, the Igbo apex socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Governors and lawmakers from the South East geopolitical zone of Nigeria have resolved to send a high-powered delegation to meet President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene in stemming the tide of escalating insecurity in the region.
The stakeholders took the decision after an emergency meeting held on Monday evening at the Imo state Governor’s Lodge in Abuja.
Imo state Governor, Hope Odidika Uzodinma who hosted the meeting which lasted for over four hours said insecurity remained the greatest challenge facing the five states that make up the South East region. They are Abia, Anambra, Ebony, Enugu and Imo states.
He said; “We have identified insecurity as the problem of South East for now and it is at the front burner and must be addressed.
“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”.
Also speaking at the meeting, the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief (Dr.) Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu said the five governors of the South East are working together with lawmakers from the zone to find lasting solution to challenges facing the people.
Said he: “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 South East governors alone. We have resolved that the leadership of Ohanaeze, the governors and lawmakers to 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”.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, the immediate past Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Nwabueze Ngige, said; “the new President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu and members of his cabinet came to meet with us, the governors, National Assembly members, former ministers and stakeholders in the South East.
“In the main, we were discussing the issue of security of our region. Security and the economy. It is the first maiden visit and we have taken some important resolutions.”
However, a source privy to the meeting has disclosed that the issues bordering on sit-at-home, the continued incarceration of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and the Finland-based self-styled Biafra Prime Minister, Mazi Simon Ekpa were discussed.
According to the source, it was agreed that a delegation will be sent to President Tinubu in the next two weeks for his intervention.
