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Tag: South East governors

  • MASSOB rejects Governor’s resolutions

    MASSOB rejects Governor’s resolutions

    Efforts by the Southeast governors and Stakeholders to end the on-going protests by members of the Movement for Actualization for Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) over the continued detention of the Director of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu and other Igbo activists may hit a brick wall as MASSOB Wednesday rejected the resolutions of the governors.

    A meeting of the elders including present and past governors, Ministers of Igbo extraction national assembly members and other Leaders had in Enugu resolved to set up a committee to dialogue with the pro- Biafra agitators.

    Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State who spoke to reporters on behalf of the Stakeholders after their marathon meeting at Government House, Enugu on Sunday said that a committee would be set up to dialogue with the pro-Biafra agitators with a view to ending the crisis.

    But MASSOB in a statement rejected the resolutions arguing that it did not address the major issue for the protests- the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu by government.

    The release signed by Uchenna Madu, National Director of Information of MASSOB
    said the only way to end the crisis is the unconditional release of Kanu.

    The group also said it is worrisome that South East governors met in their usual characteristic without their South-South counterparts where Biafra uprising also holds sway.

    The statement reads: “MASSOB is not satisfied with all the meeting of Igbo leaders on Sunday because of no seriousness on the plight of Nnamdi Kanu”.

    “How can revered Igbo leaders waste a whole day in a marathon meeting without discussing our simple demand of Nnamdi Kanu’s release?”.

    “Are they afraid of Northern oligarchy, western alliance with north or President Buhari?. The governors Ohaneze and other Igbo leaders have proved that they’re not representing the interest and demands of Ndigbo”.

    “They have shown their soft mind, inferiority complex and loyalty to our oppressors, we shall prove to Nigeria that the Igbo governors, national assembly members, other Igbo leaders are not truly in charge of affairs in Igboland.”

    “DSS is buying time for long incarceration of Nnamdi Kanu to impress Buhari and Northern Political cabals that they can frustrate Biafra revolution”.

    “Long incarceration of Nnamdi Kanu by DSS will only motivate, inspire and increase the
    moral of Biafran agitators. How long shall they continue to detain an innocent man who already command the massive respect of Ndigbo even in detention?.

    “MASSOB and IPOB members are not demonstrating or protesting against infrastructural decay in Igboland or non inclusion of Igbos in major political appointments but the release of our brother, Nnamdi Kanu who represent the genuine desire of the people eastern region”.

    “Other demands and clamor of Ndigbo as a result of the current political tension are good but major one now is the release of Nnamdi Kanu.”

  • S’East governors to resolve Pro-Biafra protests

    S’East governors to resolve Pro-Biafra protests

    South East governors Tuesday rose from a meeting in Enugu with a tacit decision to resolve the issue of the pro-Biafran protests by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB).

    They have also advised MASSOB/IPOB to tow the line of peace as it is the only way to ensure economic development of the zone.

    The governors said they resolved to consult widely with “Ohanaeze, traditional rulers, development unions, clergy and other stakeholders on how to ensure lasting peace in the zone.”

    In a communiqué which was read by Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo state, the governors assured: “In furtherance to this, the South East governors scheduled an emergency meeting of stakeholders on Sunday 22nd November, 2015 in Enugu.”

    Attendance at the emergency meeting includes; all National Assembly members, all ministers and other invited guests from the zone.

    They expressed concern about the poor state of the Federal Government roads in the zone namely Enugu-Onitsha Road, Aba-Ikot Ekpene Road, Owerri-Port Harcourt Road, Enugu-Port Harcourt Road and others which needed urgent intervention by the Federal Government.

    The governors also resolved to appoint a high level Economic Advisory Committee to harness the economic potentials of the people of the zone working together.

    In attendance were Governor Ifeany Ugwuanyi of Enugu state, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia state, Rochas Okorocha of Imo state and the deputy governor of Anambra state, Nkem Okeke.

    Ebonyi state governor Dave Umahi was absent.

  • South East governors condemn Abuja bombing

    South East governors condemn Abuja bombing

    The South East Governors’ Forum has condemned the recent bomb blasts that rocked Emab Plaza in the Wuse 2 Area of Abuja.

    The forum described the incident, which  claimed more than 20 lives of mostly traders, as a bad Wednesday for the country.

    The condemnation of the bomb blast was contained in a statement signed by the chairman of the forum and Abia State governor, Chief Theodore Orji. He said that continuous bombing by the insurgents will do the country no good.

    The Governors’ Forum, which sympathised with the families of those that lost their loved ones in the blasts, called on Nigerians not to despair in the face of terror, but to help the security agencies to combat crimes by giving them useful information to operate with.

    The forum called on Nigerians to report suspicious movements to the police and other security agencies within their domains, saying that it is one of the ways to help in combating crimes in the country.

    It, however, expressed optimism in the measures taken by the Federal Government to contain the rising cases of insurgency and terrorism in the country.

    The forum stated: “We were shocked by Wednesday’s bomb blasts that rocked the Emab Plaza in Wuse 2 Area of Abuja, which left many innocent Nigerians dead and others injured.

    “We sympathise with the families of those that lost their loved ones and wish those injured and receiving treatment at different hospitals quick recovery.

    “We condemn this latest bomb blasts carried out by insurgents, which left over 21 people dead. This is an act of wickedness which any well meaning citizens of the country should condemn.

    “We call on Nigerians not to be deterred in the face of terror as Federal Government has the capacity to contain it. All suspicious movements within your domain should be reported to the police and other security agencies for prompt action to be taken.

    “We want to reassure Nigerians that very soon, insurgency and terrorism will become a thing of the past. Nigeria will continue to remain one united and indivisible entity.”

  • Jonathan, South- East governors meet on roads’ projects

    Jonathan, South- East governors meet on roads’ projects

    President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday night met with governors from the South East states and their leaders.

    Although the agenda of the meeting was not made public, it was gathered that issues bothering on erosion and deplorable state of federal roads in the South East were some of the issues that dominated discussions.

    Political issue and the recent security threat in the region also came up for discussion.

    Briefing State House correspondents at the end of the meeting which lasted till about 12am, Anambra State governor, Mr Peter Obi, said they discussed the construction of the second Niger Bridge and road infrastructure in the region.

    “We actually come to see the President to brief him on the situation of the South East and also mention one or two issues that are of concern to us and we had a very useful meeting.

    “Some of the issues are personal to us but the issue that is of main concern to us is the issue of second Niger Bridge which the Minister of Works has been working very hard and has promised to deliver,” he said.

    Describing the meeting as fruitful, the governor said the issue of roads, especially the Enugu – Port-Harcourt road and the Enugu Onitsha road came up for discussion.

    Minister of Works, Mike Onolememen, said the meeting afforded him the opportunity to brief the governors on the procurement of the second Niger Bridge.

    He said: “You will recall that in December last year we commenced the procurement process for the Second Niger Bridge and we have achieved a milestone on that particular procurement till date.

    “The transaction adviser was appointed a couple of months ago, a couple of months after, they submitted an inspection report on the project.

    “About a week ago, the request for proposal was issued to the shortlisted consortia who are participating in the procurement process and that is expected to be turned in by the second week of December.

    “After the analysis of the Record for Proposal by the various would be concessionaire, a successful concessionaire will be announced and that will be followed quickly by the financial closure.

    “We are certain that base on our projection, that by the end of the first quarter of 2013 there will be a breaking of ground on the second Niger Bridge project, which means that the successful concessionaire for the project will be on site.”

    The minister said the project would be driven under the Public –Private- Partnership arrangement.

     

  • Kidnapping: Ihejirika backs South East governors

    Kidnapping: Ihejirika backs South East governors

    THE Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, yesterday rallied behind South East governors in their plan to use the army in tackling robbery and kidnapping in the zone.
    Gen Ihejirika is convinced that with the initiative coming from the governors the twin problems would soon “be put behind us.”
    The army chief spoke at the end of this year’s Regimental Sergeants’ Major (RSM) Convention hosted by the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Enugu.
    He said: “The issue of kidnapping is a problem the army is very familiar with, having dealt with kidnappers in the past in Abia State, and having helped to restore normalcy to Aba. As you are aware, the kidnappers are aided by the use of GSMs and the proliferation of weapons. But what will help most is the cooperation of people in giving out vital information to the security agencies.
    “It’s a very welcome development that the South East governors have come together just like the Northern governors have all come together to help tackle the menace of terrorists. So, with this type of interest shown by the governors, I believe the problem of armed robbery and kidnapping in the zone will be put behind us.”
    On the RSM Convention Gen. Ihejirika said: “The RSM sending off today has been quite successful and the turnout was quite impressive. All the RSMs of all units of the Nigerian army are in attendance except those involved in operations currently. And the topics discussed boarder on the contributions RSMs must make towards enhancing the performance of the Nigerian army, maintenance of discipline among soldiers, preserving our ethics and values amongst others. So I believe that with the turnout and the level of enthusiasm shown, it has been a success.”
    The five South East governors, at a meeting with security stakeholders in Enugu last week set up a committee headed by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division, Nigeria Army, Enugu, Major General Oluwaseun Oshinowo to proffer solution to the insecurity in the zone.