An emergency meeting of the governors of the Southeast geopolitical zone has just concluded in the late hours of Tuesday in Enugu, the region’s political capital.
All governors of the five states of the zone, including Dr. Alex Otti of Abia, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra, Chief Hope Uzodinma of Imo, and Mr. Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi, together with their host Peter Mbah of Enugu were in attendance.
Other leaders were also present at the meeting, including the revered Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe, and Chief Emeka Anyaoku, former Secretary General of the Commonwealth of Nations. They joined Nigeria’s former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, in a solidarity meeting with the governors.
Resolutions Reached
The agenda was initially kept from the public. Still, after deliberating for over six hours, the governors emerged at the steps of the Lion Building, the seat of government of Enugu state, to read out the communique of agreements reached.
The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the “region’s security and economic integration“, agreeing to reignite certain aspects of the resolutions reached during the South East Security and Economic Summit held in Owerri on 28 September 2023
Political leaders including governors of South East zone of Nigeria gather for a crucial meeting at Enugu. pic.twitter.com/OYgpnJe9sq
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They also resolved to visit the president “to discuss pressing issues concerning the region, in particular, to secure the release of Nnamdi Kanu.” Mr. Kanu is the leader of the separatist group IPOB, who has been under federal trial since 2016.
On Saturday, former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi called for the governors to “work together as a family,” emphasizing the urgent need for unity and cooperation in the region.
It would appear the governors headed the call today.
Tuesday’s communique did not outline timelines for the actionable plans enumerated. It will be seen if the governors have the political will to fulfill their commitment to unity and cooperation in tackling the challenges in the region—several of them of existential proportions.
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