Governors of the Southeast geopolitical zone, have noted that the insecurity in the zone has gone beyond the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB),.
as according to them cultists, armed robbers and kidnappers have recruited themselves and are using the name of IPOB to kill innocent citizens.
OBINNA EZUGWU
The Southeast Governors Forum (SGF), which made the observation in a statement on Thursday, called on Armed Forces deployed to the zone to check insecurity to operate within the rules engagement.
The forum in the statement signed by its chairman and governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. Dave Umahi, thanked the federal government and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for their efforts in ensuring that Saturday’s Anambra State governorship election holds.
“We are aware of the various illegal orders of sit-at home by different groups of state agitators for our people of South East to sit at home every Monday and from 5th to 10th November 2021,” the governors said.
“Whereas we have identified some of the spokespersons of some of these groups and we have been engaging them to stop all forms of violence and illegalities in South East and allow South East leaders to address all issues raised by them, we are however working with security agencies, our local security and our leaders to protect the lives of our people and to address all issues raised.
“We thank Ohaneze Ndigbo for a good job they did through their various committees in raising various solutions towards addressing all issues raised by our 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.
“We thank Federal Government of Nigeria and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for their determination to hold Anambra election on 6th November, 2021. We will give them every support and shall help them to ensure a free, fair and violence free election. We therefore ask our people to go out and vote for candidates of their choice as we have been assured of adequate security measures to secure their lives and properties.
“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.
“We wish Anambra people a peaceful election on 6th November, 2021.”