Ohaneze Ndigbo, state governors and National Assembly members from South East have taken steps to end the weekly sit-at-home forced on the people by members of Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB).
To this end, the political leaders have resolved to meet with President Bola Tinubu to help find lasting solution to the security challenges in the region.
At a meeting in Abuja on Monday, which was attended by members of Ohaneze, two state governors from the zone and National Assembly members, Igbo leaders said the meeting with Tinubu will also seek for the release of the detained IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu.
Imo State governor Senator Hope Uzodinma, who hosted the meeting at the state Governor’s Lodge in Abuja, told journalists that insecurity remained the greatest challenge facing the region.
He disclosed that stakeholders from the South East identified this as the problem of the region and have decided to put it “at the front burner and must be addressed.”
The governor recalled that the Federal Government had in the past, supported the people to tackle their security challenges, but believed it could do more.
“We resolved to make a representation to the president for his intervention to be able to bring insecurity in the region to an end.
“Any moment from now, we will be putting together an arrangement to visit the president and discuss with him.
“There are certain things we cannot do very well without the Federal Government. Security is in the Exclusive List and only the Federal Government can deploy as appropriate,” Governor Uzodinma said.
Also speaking, President General of Ohaneze Chief Iwuanyanwu who presided over the meeting, said the five governors of the South East are working together with lawmakers from the zone to find lasting solution to challenges facing the people.
This, according to him, include OSDA Loan Scheme and Fund Raising Programme, formation of Cooperative Society among OSDA members, as well as search for employment opportunities and grants at CBN, NIRSAL, NDE, NITDAL, BOI.
