South-East leaders disown IPOB, other secessionist groups
The leaders of the South-East, comprising the Governors, political, religious and traditional rulers rose from a meeting in Enugu on Saturday where they disowned the Indigenous People of Biafra and all pro-Biafra agitators, saying “they do not speak for South-East.”
However, the governors warned the security agencies in the region to stop killing Igbo youths, and urged them to respect their rights, while condemning the attacks on security infrastructures in the zone.
The meeting was a follow up to the consultation the Presidential delegation, led by the Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Magashi (retd), had with the Igbo leaders, on June 11, 2023, on the security challenges confronting the region in particular and Nigeria in general.
Chairman South-East Governors Forum and Governor of Ebonyi State, Chief David Umahi, who read the resolutions of the leaders assured all Nigerians living in the South-East region that they have no reason to fear or leave the region.
Umahi in the same vain appealed to leaders of other regions to ensure the protection of Igbos living in their regions, noting that they have uncovered some threats against Igbos living in other parts of the country by their people.
The communique read in parts, “Arising from the meeting of 11th of June 2021, with the presidential team led by the Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Magashi (retd), we the South-East people agreed to a further meeting with them as requested by them.
“Consequent upon that, we scheduled our own meeting today the 19th of June to enable us discuss as brothers and sisters and articulate our positions to enable us to not only engage the presidential team but also engage our people over all burning issues.
“The meeting set up committees under the Ohanaeze to articulate and address our position on all burning issues to further meet among ourselves and thereafter meet with the presidential team.
“We the Igbos do reaffirm our commitment to one United Nigeria under a platform of justice, equality of rights, fairness, love and respect for one another.
“We have noted threats by some groups in some other regions against our people of South-East while we firmly promise to protect every one either from our own region or other regions living in our places.
“We plead with leaders of other regions to please note the threats to our people and to please address the threats to our people and to protect them.
“We condemn the killing of security agents, the burning of strategic infrastructures and killing of civilians in South-East and even in other regions.
“We request our security agencies to please discharge their duties within the rules of engagement and the law.
“We request our National Assembly members from South East to please support state police creation in the ongoing constitutional amendment. Punch
