Southeast Governors’, Thursday, stated that insecurity in the zone has gone beyond the Indigenous People of Biafra, (IPOB) adding that cultists, armed robbers and kidnappers have recruited themselves and are using the name of IPOB to be killing innocent citizens.
Chairman of the Southeast Governors Forum, Engr. David Umahi, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists in Abakaliki.
The forum vowed to put and end to the security challenges facing the zone.
They assured Anambra residents that they will give the Independent Electoral Commission, (INEC) and security operatives every support needed to ensure a violence free exercise during the November 6, Anambra election.
The group called on voters to come out to vote for their choice candidates, stating that the forum has been assured of adequate security during the exercise in Anambra state.
They also charged security operatives to protect lives and properties in Anambra state while playing within the rules of their engagements.
“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,” they stated.
The further group noted that; “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 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”.