Southeast governors, leaders request protection of Ndigbo living in North

Governors and leaders of the Southeast geo-political zone rose from a meeting in Enugu, yesterday, with a call on their northern counterparts to protect Igbos living in their area.

They also described as untrue insinuations that they had remained silence in the face of agitations and secession threats by youths of Igbo extraction.

Addressing reporters on the resolutions at the meeting, Chairman, Southeast governors forum and Ebonyi State governor, Dave Umahi, stated that Ndigbo was committed to a united Nigeria.

He stated that those calling for secession were not spokespersons of the Igbo, adding that they will not advocate for a split in a country they had committed so much to build.

Umahi added that Ndigbo and their property should be protected in all parts of the country, the same way they had protected all residents and property of others in the region.

He stated: “We the Igbos do reaffirm our commitment with one Nigeria under a platform of justice, equality of rights, fairness, love and respect for one another. We have had meetings with some groups from other regions in South East and have reassured of our desires to firmly protect everyone living in our places.”

We plead with other regions to please note the threat to our people and please address the threats to our people and protect them.

“We condemn the killing of security agencies, burning of infrastructural facilities and killing of civilians in South East and even in other regions. We request our security agencies to discharge their duties in line with their rules of engagement and law.

“We request our National Assembly members from South East to please support state creation and state police in ongoing constitutional amendment.

“We condemn in totality the activities of secessionist groups in south-east and elsewhere. We firmly proclaim that we do not support them because they do not speak for South East. The impression that Southeast governors are silence over our youths’ agitation and secession is not correct. South East governors, Ohanaeze President, National Assembly members and notable leaders from South East had come out publicly in the past to speak against such agitation”.

He said part of efforts to address agitations in the zone was the setting up of a committee to engage the groups and allow the elders to address their fears.

Umahi said the meeting endorsed South East joint security outfit ( Ebubeagu) and asked its personnel to work with other security agencies, respect rights and privileges of those living in South East and her visitors.