South-east governors have vowed to do “everything” to end the constant sit-at-home order given by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The governor stated this in a communiqué issued at the end of their meeting with stakeholders on Tuesday.
The meeting was convened by Ebonyi State Governor Dave Umahi and hosted by Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
Mr Umahi, who is chairman of Southeast Governors Forum, said the governors were worried by the spate of insecurity in the region.
He assured that the regional security outfit put together by states in the region, “Ebubeagu’’, would be launched to give it teeth and laws passed in all the states to that effect before end of 2021.
“The governors and leaders of the southeast condemn killings in the region and have agreed to join hands with security agencies to stop the trend.
“We as well condemn the ‘sit-at-home’ order by IPOB issued mostly by our people in the diaspora who do not feel the pains.
“The meeting resolved that governors and people of the southeast will do everything within the law to ensure that there is no further sit-at-home and people are allowed to move about freely,’’ Umahi said.
The governor said the meeting received a report from Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the flagship socio-cultural organisation in the region, on various matters affecting the southeast, especially on security and marginalisation.
He stressed that the governors would study the report for immediate implementation and engagement with the Federal Government for amicable settlement of issues agitating the minds of the people, especially the youths.
The governors of Imo and Enugu states and the deputy governor of Abia also attended the meeting. Anambra State was not represented at the meeting.
Others in attendance were senators Ike Ekweremadu, Enyinnaya Abaribe, Tobi Okechukwu, Victor Umeh, clergymen and traditional rulers.
