South-East-Governors (from left): Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu, Willy Obiano of Anambra, David Umahi of Ebonyi, Hope Uzodimma of Imo and Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia
Cultists, armed robbers, kidnappers to blame for insecurity in South East, not IPOB – Governors
[From CHINEDU NWAFOR, Abakaliki]
South East Governors Forum, Thursday, said the current security challenges bedevilling the region was no longer under the control of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), as it insisted that cultists, armed robbers and kidnappers had recruited themselves and were the ones using the name of the group to harass innocent citizens.
Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Ebonyi State, Chief David Umahi who disclosed this in a statement he signed on behalf of other state chief executives, also said the forum has resolved to put the ugly situation to an immediate end.
The Forum further disclosed that religious leaders, Ohanaeze Ndigbo and traditional rulers were already mediating with IPOB to see reasons to call off all sit-at-home orders including the recent one billed for 5th to 10th November, 2021.
The Governors added that they were committed to political solutions over the present situation in South East, saying “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.”
The forum thanked the Federal Government and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for their determination to hold Anambra election on 6th November, 2021, assuring that the governors would 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,” the forum added.
Full text of 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.
“We thank Ohanaeze Ndigbo for a good job they did through their various committees in raising various solutions towards addressing all issues raised by our young children. South East Governors are studying their reports with the elders and leaders of the various South East States and 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.
“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, Ohanaeze 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.”
