SOUTH EAST SUMMIT: SPEAKERS HARP ON IMPROVED SECURITY & ECONOMIC REVIVAL

REPORTER: CHUKWUKA AGUKWE

Governors of the five South East states Wednesday converged on Owerri for a two day security and economic summit to brainstorm on challenges of insecurity and failing economy ravaging the region.

The Governors took time to address issues bothering on empowerment, transportation, investment and Health-care.

In her address of welcome, the Chairman of the summit planning Committee, Senator Chris Anyanwu, explained that the summit was to find solutions to the existential problems facing the Igbos.

Senator Anyanwu said the South East, which was known for peace, industrialisation and innovation, is now facing insecurity which brings distraction to the Governors.

“The south east Governors have been grappling with this distraction in region’s advancement, today they have called you here not for lamentations but to join for solutions,” the senator stated.

The Chairman of the occasion, Senator Anyim Pius Anyiam, said the Summit was to show a collective will and determination as well solidarity to look for better approaches to address the issues and explore the way forward.

Senator Anyim said the gathering would send a clearer message to the people (both Igbos at home and abroad) that the south east was more concerned about security, equity and economic development.

“We acknowledge that we as Ndigbo like the rest of Nigeria have been facing serious security and economic challenges.

“We are here to show our collective will, our determination and solidarity in search of our solutions and for our challenges,” Sen. Anyim remarked.

Addressing the gathering, Governor Hope Uzodimma emphasized that Igbo people should float an economic fund, and urged every son and daughter to support the ohaneze ndigbo in educating the people.

This they should do by preaching morality, teaching the younger generation the culture and traditions for better Nigeria.

Senator Uzodimma, while noting that South East Governors are working together and desirous to having Igbo interest addressed, secure the region and do necessary things to bring prosperity to the people, insisted that people of Igbo extraction must speak with one voice.

“Why we are here, is to discuss the prevailing insecurity in the south east and the way forward. This is one area that the state government must have a substantial role to play.

“There is no doubt that insecurity in the south east is fast turning into explicable phenomenon, criminals hide under a separatist agitations,” Governor Uzoma commented.

Other Governors, including Dr. Alex Otti of Abia State; Dr. Peter Mba of Enugu State; Prof. Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State, and Chief Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State spoke in one voice to bring the region back to its entrepreneur achievement.

This is by encouraging the youths to sheath their sword and embrace government programmes to tackle agitations of any kind.

Other keynote speakers among whom were the Director General World Trade Organization, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, challenged the south east to harness its abundant natural resources.

The President Ohaneze Ndigbo, Dr. Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, recommended the use of non kinetic approach to the issues of insecurity.

The Royal Father of the Day and Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe and both serving and retired senior security personnel, including a representatives of national security adviser General Okey Ugoh (rtd) were in attendance.

The theme for the Summit is “South East beyond 2023, Time for Research.”

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU