The South-East Governors’ Forum says they would soon meet with the Federal Government concerning the case of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, stating that they would pursue political solutions in his case.
The IPOB leader is currently in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).
The umbrella body of the five Governors of the South East region – Abia, Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi and Imo, also lamented that criminals are now using the name of IPOB to kill innocent citizens.
They therefore called on security agencies to secure the lives of citizens of Anambra State ahead of the Governorship election in the State slated for November 6.
Governor of Ebonyi State and Chairman, South East Governors’ Forum, David Umahi, said in a statement on Thursday that “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.
“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.”
On the Anambra election, the statement read in part: “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 the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Independent National Electoral Commission for their determination to hold the 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.”
