SOUTH EAST GOVERNORS MEET ON BIAFRA PROTESTS,SEEK UNDERSTANDING OF ALL STAKEHOLDERS

The South East Governors Forum, SEGF, summoned an emergency meeting of Igbo leaders to discuss the persisting protests by members of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, which have paralysed economic activities in the old Eastern region.
The South East Governors’ position was contained in a communique issued after a meeting of the governors in Enugu yesterday. The communique read by the Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha after the meeting at the Government House Enugu in the evening said.
“The South East Governors met today (yesterday) November 17, 2015, and deliberated on a number of issues and resolved as follows:
“To appoint a high level Economic Advisory Committee to harness the economic potentials of the people of the South East working together.
“The governors are concerned about the poor state of the Federal Government roads in the zone namely the Enugu – Onitsha, Aba- Ikot Ekpene , Owerri – Port Harcourt, Enugu – Port Harcourt, among others which need urgent intervention by the Federal Government.
“On security, the issue of MASSOB/ IPOB, was discussed and they resolved to consult widely with Ohanaeze (Ndigbo), traditional rulers, development unions, clergy, and other stakeholders on how to ensure lasting peace in the zone. In furtherance to this, the South East Governors scheduled an emergency meeting of stakeholders on Sunday, November 22, 2015, at Enugu. “Expected to attend the emergency meeting include all National Assembly members, all ministers and other invited stakeholders from the zone.
“They meanwhile, advised MASSOB/IPOB to continue to toe the line of peace as this is the only way to ensure economic development of the zone.”
Those who signed the communique included Governors Okorocha, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu); Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and the Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Dr Nkem Okeke, who stood in for Governor Willie Obiano. The Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi who lost his mother recently was absent at the meeting and no reasons were given for his absence.
Answering reporters’ questions on which faction of Ohanaeze the governors wished to work with, in view of the disunity within the group, Okorocha said that “whatever is available as Ohanaeze, we will see to it” that they participate.
He said also, said that there was no vacuum in the leadership of the governors’ forum as any of them could be chairman. The forum has not had a substantive chairman since the exit of the former Governor of Abia State, Ochendo Theodore Oji, who is now in the senate.