BY VICTOR NWEGEDE
The South East Governors' Forum has assured of its commitment to the political solutions over the present situations in the region and urged that all illegal sit-at-home orders and violence should be stopped in the zone.
The forum also expressed confident that members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, would call off all their sit-at-home orders including their recent one week lock down plan in the region.
This was contained in a press release endorsed by the Chairman of the South East Governors' Forum and Governor of Ebonyi State, Chief David Nweze Umahi.
"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," part of the statement read.
He said that the forum has become aware of the various illegal orders of sit-at-home by different agitators for South East people to sit at home every Monday and from 5th to 10th November 2021.
Umahi said the South East Governors also have identified some of the spokespersons of the groups, engaging them to stop all forms of violence and illegalities in the region.
He urged the agitators to allow South East leaders to address all issues raised by them, saying that they have been working with security agencies, local security and leaders to protect the lives of people and to address every issue raised within the region.
The South Governors thanked leaders of the Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide for a good job they did through their various committees in raising different solutions towards addressing all issues raised by their 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," parts of the statement added.
The South East Governors equally thanked Federal Government of Nigeria and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for their determination to hold Anambra election on 6th November, 2021, promising to give them every support to ensure a free, fair and violence free election and asked their people to go out and vote for candidates of their choice, with assurance of adequate security measures to secure their lives and properties.
