Governors and leaders of the South-East geopolitical zone rose from their meeting in furtherance of the one they had held with the Presidential team led by Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Magashi (Rtd.), wherein they had agreed to a further meeting – consequent upon which they had scheduled a meeting today, for the articulation of their positions and further meet with the Presidential team.
Today’s meeting set up Committees under Ohaneze to articulate and address Igbo positions on all burning issues and to further meet among themselves and thereafter meet with the Presidential team:
The Igbo leaders reaffirmed their commitment to one united Nigeria under a platform of justice, equality of rights, fairness, love and respect for one another;
The leaders frowned at threat against Ndigbo pointing out that “we have noted threats by some groups against our people of South East, while we firmly promise to protect everyone either from other regions or ours, we plead with the leaders of other regions to protect our people living in their regions;)”
The South-East leaders, comprising of traditional rulers, opinion leaders, clergymen and political leaders condemned the killing of security agencies, burning of strategic infrastructure and killing of civilians in South East and in other regions while requesting our security agencies to ‘please discharge their duties within the rules of engagement and the law’
They also requested National Assembly from the South East to support State Police creation in the ongoing constitutional amendment;
Dissociating themselves from the Biafran secessionist bid, the leaders declared their preference for one Nigeria;’ We condemn in totality, the activities of violent secessionist groups in South East and elsewhere, we firmly proclaim that we do not support them, they do not speak for South East. The impression that South-East leaders are silent over some of our youths agitators for secession is not correct.’ However, they sued for dialogue while reiterating the condemnation of the agitations ‘South-East Governors, Ohaneze President, National Assembly members, a notable leader had come out publicly many times in the past to speak against such agitations. In order not to mismanage the unfortunate situation, South East leaders have set up a committee to engage such youths to stop and allow elders speak to address such fears’
The Leaders in the Meeting directed the Governors and Ohaneze Ndigbo to liaise with indigenes from 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 the 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 South East and our visitors;
The Committees set up included those on Agitation, Engagement with other regions, Those of our people in the North, South-East, South-South South-West, IPOB, MASSOB, Youths and Market people, Okada and Keke, Diaspora, Advocacy, Diplomatic engagement with Foreign Missions.
Dignitaries at the meeting included Governors Ugwuanyi and Umahi as well as the Deputies and Representatives of Imo, Abia and Anambra, Senators Ike Ekweremadu, Enyinnaya Abaribe and Rep. Member Toby Okechukwu, Chief Doctor Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Admiral Allison Madueke RTD., Bishops C.V.C Onaga, E.O Chukwuma, and many royal fathers and distinguished political leaders from the South East.