South East leaders condemn insecurity in zone, deny IPOB

 

Igbo leaders from the five geo-political zone of the South East rose from a meeting in Enugu on Saturday with a declaration that neither the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) nor any other secessionist group for that matter speaks for the Igbo of South East.

The leaders, comprising the five South East governors of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states; political, religious and traditional rulers while condemning the killing of security agents and burning of strategic infrastructures in the zone, urged security agencies to discharge their duties within the rules of engagement and the law.

The meeting was said to be a follow up to the consultation a Presidential delegation, led by the Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Magashi (rtd.), had with the Igbo leaders, on June 11, 2021, on the security challenges confronting the region in particular and Nigeria in general.

Chairman South-East Governors Forum and Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, who read the resolutions of the leaders assured all Nigerians living in the South-East region that they have no reason to fear or leave the region.

Umahi in the same vain appealed to leaders of other regions to ensure the protection of Igbos living in their regions, noting that they have uncovered some threats against Igbos living in other parts of the country by their people.

Part of the communique reads: “Arising from the meeting of 11th of June 2021, with the presidential team led by the Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Magashi (retd), we the South-East people agreed to a further meeting with them as requested by them.

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“Consequent upon that, we scheduled our own meeting today the 19th of June to enable us discuss as brothers and sisters and articulate our positions to enable us to not only engage the presidential team but also engage our people over all burning issues.

“The meeting set up committees under the Ohanaeze to articulate and address our position on all burning issues to further meet among ourselves and thereafter meet with the presidential team.

“We the Igbos do reaffirm our commitment to one United Nigeria under a platform of justice, equality of rights, fairness, love and respect for one another.

“We have noted threats by some groups in some other regions against our people of South-East while we firmly promise to protect every one either from our own region or other regions living in our places.

“We plead with leaders of other regions to please note the threats to our people and to please address the threats to our people and to protect them.

“We condemn the killing of security agents, the burning of strategic infrastructures and killing of civilians in South-East and even in other regions.

“We request our security agencies to please discharge their duties within the rules of engagement and the law.

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“We request our National Assembly members from South East to please support state police creation in the ongoing constitutional amendment.

“We condemn in totality the activities of violence secessionist groups in South East and elsewhere. We firmly proclaim that we do not support them and they do not speak for South-East.”

The leaders rejected the allegation by, especially northern leaders, that they were silent over youths agitation for secession in the South East, describing such impression as incorrect.

According to Umahi, “South East Governors, Ohanaeze President, our National Assembly members and notable leadership from South East had come out publicly many times in the past including Ministers from the South-East to speak against such agitations.

“In order not to mismanage the unfortunate situation we found ourselves, South-East leaders have set up a committee to engage such youths to stop and allow the elders of the south east to address their fears.”

He added, “Meeting directed our governors and Ohanaeze Ndigbo to liaise with indigenes of northern part of Nigeria and other indigenes of other regions that are living in the South-East to come out openly and to assured their people of course the nation Nigeria that they are very safe and well protected while living in South East.

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“The meeting endorsed our South-East Joint Security outfit ‘Ebubeagu’ and ask all the personnel of Ebubeagu to work with the security agencies and to respect the rights and privileges of all those living in the South East and her visitors.”

Those in attendance were, governors of Enugu, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; Ebonyi, David Umahi; Abia, Okezie Ikpeazu; deputy Governors of Anambra, Nkem Okeke and Imo, Prof Placid Njoku.

Others are former deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu; Senate Minority Leader and the Chairman South East National Assembly Caucus, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Senator Sam Egwu.

Also, in attendance were Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Prof George Obiozor; Chief Nnia Nwodo, Minister of State for Steel and Mining, Dr Uche Oga; Minister of Labour and Productivity, Senator Chris Ngige.

Religious leaders in the meeting included Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Most Rev Callistus Onaga; Bishop of Nsukka Catholic Diocese, Most Rev Geoffrey Onah; Anglican Archbishop of Enugu Provence, Most Rev Emmanuel Chukwuma; Methodist Bishop of Enugu, Dr Christopher Ede; Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Most Rev Emmanuel Ede among others.