Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
A group with the name, Igbo National Council (INC) has challenged the governors in the eastern part of the state to convene a meeting of the South East Governors Forum or hide their faces in shame.
The INC President, Chilos Godsent, who spoke on behalf of the group, said: “Governors of the South East region are not representing the interest of the people of the states they claim to be governing.
The group also accused the governors of not being proactive towards solving various problems facing the zone, especially their alleged inability to convene or have a functional South East Governors’ Forum, (SEGF).
They alleged that governors from that region are also not representing the region’s interest, instead, some of them are representing the interest of the neocolonial powers and interests that facilitated their emergence as governors to the detriment of their people and that of South East region.
“The Igbo National Council (INC), therefore, condemns this act of cowardice and thus, enjoins the Governors of the five states in South East zone to put their house in order, and cooperate among themselves in order to collectively defend and represent the interest of South East people who they claim to serve.
“In this vein, we are also calling on South East caucus in the National Assembly to Start Meeting so the interest of South East Zone can be properly represented and protected at the floor of the National Assembly.
“Consequent upon the above, we, therefore, enjoin the Youths of the South East zone to rise up, mobilise and pressure the governors of the zone to immediately commence the meeting of the South East Governors’ Forum (SEGF) or hide their face in shame.”
Reacting to the allegation, Director General of the South East Governors’ Forum, Senator Uche Ekwunife, said the governors were working together to develop the region through a robust economic policy.
“The South East governors have embarked on a bold and deliberate plan to transform the regional infrastructural deficit, such as rail system, security, power, and human capital development, among others, through strategic investments.
“In tackling insecurity, the governors’ dogged commitment in combating insecurity issues in the region is total. They have made various moves in the area of insecurity.
“The governors are establishing a regional command centre in Enugu. This state-of-the-art facility will coordinate security efforts across the region, deterring criminal activities and fostering a sense of peace and stability.
“One of the key priorities for the South East Governors is the sponsorship of a uniform legislation through their state assemblies on power, leveraging on the removal of power from the exclusive legislative list to the concurrent legislative list. This legislation aims to create a seamless and investor-friendly environment, eliminating encumbrances and hurdles, while transacting business with the states in the region”, Ekwunife said.