Restructure Nigeria - S/East Govs, Ohanaeze Urges FG

Governors of the South-East zone, the lead­ership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and other leaders of thought from the region have asked the Federal Government to heed the growing clamour for the restructuring of Nigeria.

The Igbo leaders expressed their support for a united Nige­ria where peace, love, fairness, justice, equity and equality of opportunity are paramount regardless of creed, ethnicity, gender or political affiliation.
They said that these ide­als can only be realised in a re­structured Nigeria.
In a communiqué they is­sued after a meeting in Enu­gu at the weekend, the leaders condemned all hate speech­es and conducts from several parts and segments of Nigeria.

 Ebonyi State Governor and the Chairman of South East Governors’ Forum, Da­vid Umahi, who signed the communiqué, said that Igbo leaders are in support of the restructuring of Nigeria on the basis of fairness and equity.
“We therefore call on the Federal Government and all Nigerian leaders to commence a process of dialogue among Nigerians on the modalities of achieving this pressing ques­tion within a reasonable time frame,” he said.
He added that Ndigbo also support the report of the Na­tional Conference of 2014 and urge the Federal Government to set up structures for its im­plementation within a reason­able time.
The meeting, according to him, agreed that the South East Governors, members of the National Assembly from South East and the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo should constitute the official organs that will speak on behalf of Ndigbo on political matters.
Umahi further said that the South East leaders, in consul­tation with leaders from other parts of the country, will engage the Federal Government on all areas of concerns to Ndigbo and to Nigeria as a whole.
The leaders advised Igbos living in other parts of Nige­ria to embrace peace and called on the government of the oth­er states to ensure adequate pro­tection for Ndigbo.
They promised adequate security for all Nigerians from other tribes living in the South East zone.
The Igbo leaders declared their readiness to defend Igbos living in other parts of the coun­try at any given time such situ­ation arises.
Governor Umahi said that the first of the meeting to plan for ways to interact with the Federal Government on sun­dry issues will be a joint one of the governors of the South East and South-South zone, billed to hold in Enugu.
Before the enlarged meet­ing, the five governors of the South East held a brief parley at the Enugu State Government House.
After the meeting, they pro­ceeded to the Nike Lake Hotel to join other Igbo leaders.
Other political office hold­ers who attended the meet­ing included the Deputy Sen­ate President Ike Ekweremadu, Senators Chuka Utazi, Gil Nnaji, Obinna Ogba, Sam Egwu, for­mer Senate President, Chief Ken Nnamani, Hon. Sylvester Ogba­ga, Hon Kingsley Ebenyi, Hon Patrick Onwe, and Chief Chek­was Okorie, the UPP leader.
Chief Nnia Nwodo, the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo led the Ohanaeze team. His predecessor, Dr. Enwo Ig­ariwey, was also in attendance.
Others were the Archbish­op of Enugu Province (Anglican Communion), Rt. Rev. Emma­nuel Chukwuma, the Catholic Bishop of Nsukka, Rev. Onah, and the Methodist Bishop of Enugu, Bishop Ede.
The Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe and Igwe Lawrence Agubuzo, the chairman of Enugu State Council of Traditional Rulers, were also involved in the par­ley.