Amid rising tension in the South-East over the activities of pro-Biafran groups, the South-East Governors Forum met in Enugu on Tuesday, calling on members of the Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, and the Independent People of Biafra, IPOB to maintain peace in the interest of the zone.
On the Biafra struggle, the governors said they would consult widely with the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, National Assembly members, ministers and other stakeholders from the zone towards achieving peace.
The meeting, which lasted for several hours, was attended by governors Chief Rochas Okorocha, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu and Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Imo, Abia and Enugu, respectively, while Anambra Governor, Willie Obiano, was represented by his Deputy, Dr. Nkem Okeke.
However, there are fresh indications of a leadership crisis among the governors. This is also as the Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi was not at the meeting. He also did not send any representative, fueling belief that the Forum was facing leadership crisis.
The Forum has been without a chairman ever since the former Abia Governor, Chief Theodore Orji served out his tenure and was elected Senator.
A source hinted that the meeting, earlier scheduled to hold in Owerre, Imo State, was moved to Enugu as majority of the governors insisted that it must be held at Enugu, the political capital of the South-East.
When asked about the vacuum in the chairmanship position, Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, who read the communique said, “we are all Governors from the South-East, anybody can be chairman; we are equal, we are all governors; so, I don’t think that is an issue, if there is need for us to come up with a chairman, we shall get into that.”
The three point communique issued after the meeting read: “The South-East Governors met today, 17th November, 2015 and deliberated on a number of issues and resolved as follows:
“To appoint a high level economic advisory committee to harness the economic potentials of the people of the South-East.
“The Governors are concerned 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, amongst others, which need urgent intervention by the Federal Government.
“On security, the issue of MASSOB/IPOB was discussed and 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 furtherance to this, the South-East Governors scheduled an emergency meeting of stakeholders on Sunday 22nd November, 2015 at Enugu. Attendance to the emergency meeting includes all National Assembly members, all honourable ministers and other invited stakeholders from the zone”.
They, however, advised MASSOB and the IPOB, “to continue to tow the line of peace as this is the only way to ensure economic development of the zone”.
But it is left to be seen the Ohanaeze faction the governors will invite to the meeting.
Earlier this year, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization faced a leadership crisis leading to the emergence of two factions. While one is being led by Chief Enwo Igariwey, another group is under the chairmanship of Chief Raph Obioha. Both groups have been working independently.
However, when confronted with this question, Okorocha said, “whatever is available as Ohanaeze, we shall receive; we are not going into the crisis of Ohanaeze, if any.”
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