Leaders of the South East geo-political zone on Thursday finally resolved to engage youths of the region to ensure sustainable peace and “a glorious future for our children.”
The leaders, who met at the Government House, Enugu, comprise of Governors, National Assembly members, Ministers, clergy, traditional rulers, opinion, community and women leaders, however tasked all Igbos, whether they live within the zone or other parts of Nigeria, to shun and “unlawful protests and criminality” in all their conducts.
The Igbo leaders sympathized with all the victims’ families of the #EndSARS protests, including the Police and other security agencies “as well as all those who lost their loved ones and properties during the recent disturbances”.
Chairman of the South East Governors’ Forum (SEGF) and Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. David Umahi, told journalists at the end of the meeting that “the State Governors are committed to addressing the concerns of our young people that are peculiar to various States and will engage the federal government and their colleagues in other States to address the other issues that are national.”
The SEGF chairman disclosed that “each State in the South East zone will set up a fund to assist the victims of the crisis, including the Police, the Army and other security agencies as well as civilians.”
The South East leaders advised youths that “while our Governors are working hard to meet their demands, the destruction of public and private properties and killing of security agents and civilians will never be allowed to continue.”
While offering to protect all ethnic groups living in the South East, the leaders thanked other parts of Nigeria for protecting Igbos in their areas too.
“We therefore, direct all Igbos, both in and outside Nigeria, to go about their businesses and should not participate in any form of unlawful protest and criminality”, they said.
Also present at the meeting were Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, his Abia State counterpart, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Nkem Okeke, Imo State Deputy Governor, Prof. Placid Njoku, President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, Senator Rochas Okorocha, Senator Sam Egwu, Senator Uche Ekwunife.
Others include the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Hon. Uchechukwu Ogah, Minister of State for Environment, Hon. Mrs. Sharon Ikeazor, the Obi of Onitsha, HRM, Igwe Alfred Achebe, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Amb. Mrs. Justina Eze, among others.
