Southeast governors, lawmakers, and leaders of the Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, have resolved to meet President Bola Tinubu over the rising insecurity in the region and the release of detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra(IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
The decision was taken at an emergency meeting held on Monday at the Imo State Governor’s lodge in Asokoro, Abuja.
The meeting, which was hosted by the Imo Governor Hope Uzodimma on Monday in Abuja attracted top political stakeholders, including executive members of Ohaneze Ndi Igbo, Governors in the region, members of the National Assembly, Speakers of South East Assemblies and other notable Southeast leaders.
While addressing journalists after the six hours of deliberation, Uzodimma, reportedly lamented that insecurity remained the greatest challenge facing the South East.
He said: “We have identified insecurity as the problem of the South East for now and it is at the front burner and must be addressed.
“The Federal Government in the past supported us but we think that it can do more. So among other resolutions, we resolved today to make a representation to the President for his intervention to be able to bring insecurity in the region to an end.
“So any moment from now, we’ll be putting together an arrangement to visit the President and discuss with him. There are certain things we cannot do very well without the Federal Government. Security is in the Exclusive List and only the Federal Government can deploy as appropriate.”
Also speaking, President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, said the five South-East governors and lawmakers from the zone are bent on finding a solution to the security situation as quickly as possible.
“Frankly speaking, I am not going to give you the details of what we want to do. The problem of insecurity is one that cannot be solved by the South-East Governors alone. We have resolved that the leadership of Ohanaeze, the governors, and lawmakers will get in touch with the President.
“The problem in the Southeast is too much, too big for the governors alone. It is a Nigerian problem and the President will give support to the governors,” he said.
Sources at the meeting disclosed that the meeting also deliberated on how to prevail on President Tinubu to consider the release of Kanu as it was identified as one of the factors responsible for insecurity in the zone.
“Yes, how to release Nnamdi Kanu is one of the top agenda of the proposed visit to the president and as you know, it is not everything that you will say in the public,” the source said.
