ISSUES OF MARGINALIZATION TOPS AGENDA AS PRESIDENT BUHARI MEETS SOUTH-EAST GOVERNORS

President Mohammadu Buhari is to open discussion with South East Governors’ Forum on how to address the issue of marginalization agitating the minds of Igbos in the country.

The Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Ebonyi State, Chief David Umahi announced this at the State’s Peace Day organized at Ezilo, the Headquarters of Ishielu Local Government Area.

Governor Umahi explained that President Buhari’s acceptance to discuss with the South East Governors’ Forum was an outcome of a private meeting he had with him during their recent trip to United States and London.

He noted that paramount among the issues he discussed with President Buhari was the need to make the number of States in the South East to be at par with other zones and to increase the number of Local Government Areas in the zone.

Chief Umahi emphasized that South East Governors had no apologies for proscribing the Indigenous People of Biafra which he said was aimed at saving the lives of millions of Igbos who had no business with the agitation by the group.

Chief Umahi stated that the Peace Day was to mark the return of peace to Ishielu Local Government Area following a communal conflict involving the people of Ezilo and Ezza Ezilo which claimed hundreds of lives and property in 2011.

In a related development, the leadership of the Senate is to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari on ways to resolve the crises emanating from series of ethnic agitations including that of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.

The senators’ resolve to meet with the executive was reached at its resumption after eight-week recess.

The meeting is to cement the agreement by the South East and Northern Senators on their position on agitation for Biafra.

AMECHI ODOH