South-East Governors plan to meet with the Federal Government to discuss issues bothering Igbo youths, including the release of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu.
Chairman of South-East Governors’ Forum David Umahi stated this in a statement on Thursday.
The Governors, while assuring that the issues will soon be addressed, also noted that they are also working with security to protect lives and property in the region.
They said they have also been in talks with some of the groups responsible for spate of sit-at-home orders, which had generated tension in the region.
The statement reads: “We are aware of the various illegal orders of sit-at-home by different groups of state agitators for our people of South East to sit at home every Monday and from 5th to 10th November 2021.
“Whereas we have identified some of the spokespersons of some of these groups and we have been engaging them to stop all forms of violence and illegalities in South East and allow South East leaders to address all issues raised by them, we are however working with security agencies, our local security and our leaders to protect the lives of our people and to address all issues raised.”
They also commended Ohaneze Ndigbo “for a good job they did through their various committees in raising various solutions towards addressing all issues raised by our young children.”
The Governors said they are studying the reports with the elders and leaders of South East.
“Very soon, we will be meeting with Federal Government of Nigeria on these issues including deploying political solutions in the case of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu which we have already initiated.
“We thank our religious leaders, Conference of Bishops and Archbishops of South East, the traditional institutions of South East and Christian Association of Nigeria of South East for their interventions and mediations on this matter. We will work with them to achieve the desired result for our people and Nigeria,” they added.
“We plead with all security agencies deployed for Anambra election to please secure the lives of our people in Anambra State while playing within the rules of their engagements.
“We are aware that the insecurity in South East has gone beyond IPOB. Cultists, armed robbers and kidnappers have recruited themselves and are using the name of IPOB to be killing innocent citizens. We will not allow this to continue.
“We thank Federal Government of Nigeria and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for their determination to hold Anambra election on 6th November, 2021.
“We will give them every support and shall help them to ensure a free, fair and violence free election. We therefore ask our people to go out and vote for candidates of their choice as we have been assured of adequate security measures to secure their lives and properties.
“We are confident that through our mediation, that of religious leaders, Ohaneze Ndigbo and traditional rulers, IPOB will see reasons to call off all sit-at-home orders including the recent one of 5th to 10th November, 2021.
“We as South East Governors are committed to political solutions over the present situation in South East and this will be achieved faster if all the illegal sit-at-home orders and violence by the various state agitators are stopped in South East.
“We wish Anambra people a peaceful election on 6th November, 2021,” the Governors added.
The Nation