*Urge Okorocha to convene meeting of South East governors over Enugu killing
The lop-sided assemblage in Enugu on Sunday, May 1, 2016 which was surprisingly labeled as the meeting of South East governors is an uninspiring distortion of current chain of values in the nation, and a sad reminder of the years gone by.
Those who seek political advantage, using the name of the South East or Ndigbo, must also try to accord the zone that has come under large pressure from issues of marginalization and inequality of states a modicum of regard.
A meeting of South East governors remains what it is- a gathering of the custodians of the states in the zone over matters of common interest in governance.
A meeting of the South East Caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] is distinct as a political assemblage of affiliation which interest is necessarily narrower.
By tradition, the South Eats governors’ forum is headed by the most experienced governor.
For many years, Gov Peter Obi held that slot while he was still the governor of Anambra State.
Today Gov Rochas Okorocha is in that position.
It therefore becomes worrisome that Senator Ike Ekweremadu could claim that information did not reach some governors, for what is supposed to be a meeting of South East governors, and some undefined ‘ South East Leaders’.
The pertinent question is where did the information that was supposed to reach Gov Okorocha and Gov. Willie Obiano emanate from?
It made a certain Ekweremadu proceed to justify the absence of the two states, and yet copiously announce that the meeting proceeded to review the situation of the invasion and killing in Enugu State.
We would have raised issues regarding the decision to proceed with that meeting in absence of two non-PDP governors, who ‘information did not reach about the meeting’.
But we are led by deeper checks to understand that that meeting was simply a PDP Caucus meeting.
It which discussed matters relating to their party-zoning, congresses and the ambitions of some individuals and self-preservation of others.
This fact is buttressed by the fact that there was nobody in the meeting who was not a PDP member.
It Includes three governors of Abia, Enugu and Ebonyi, Ekweremadu and interestingly, Mr. Peter Obi.
Obi was ex-governor of Anambra State who received information that could not reach the incumbent governor, Obiano.
We crave honesty of purpose and plead that the practice of the past where PDP used the name of the South East to cover its partisan gatherings should be jettisoned in favour of a forthright approach to issues.
This is in order that Ndigbo will understand when their genuine interests are being discussed and when they sold out for partisan considerations and personal ambitions.
The tag of that Enugu meeting as a South East governors meeting is hereby completely rejected and PDP chieftains are encouraged to find the confidence to address their matters in their name.
The callous invitation should extend to the other governors.
They were admittedly not informed about the meeting to join in the decisions already made by an amorphous partisan group in the name of South East interest must be condemned as a no-brainer which must not repeat itself.
Anambra and Imo State cannot be excluded in a meeting to discuss the affairs of the South East, if it is driven by genuine interests.
We are shocked that Peter Obi wearing a wide grin sat through this charade, accepting that wishy-washy presentation by Ekweremadu.
We hasten to remind Obi that he is no longer the governor of Anambra State and cannot overstep his bounds in such a brazen manner.
That is because governors carry the representation of their states.
Consequently, we call on Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo State to convene a proper meeting of the South East governors at the earliest to deal with issues of common governance interests of the zone.
We welcome the judicial panel of inquiry announced by Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi to probe the invasion in Ukpabi Nimbo communities of Uzo Uwani Local Government Area in Enugu State.
After his initial faltering steps that left avoidable lapses ask him to hasten to set the panel and slow down other far-reaching measures to be informed by the findings of the panel.
We call once again on the security agecies to track down, arrest and bring to book those who committed the dastardly act in Uzo Uwani.
We urge all kith and kin in the South East to temper their words with maturity, in other to manage the saga productively and emerge from it better.
Once again we condole with the families of the bereaved and the community over in the cold-blooded invasion.
We hope that they recover their life in no time.
We plead with military authorities to ensure that troops deployed to the community for peace-keeping do not stray from the objective of being civil and kind to the beneficiary community.
For: All Progressives Congress (APC), Anambra State Chapter
Okelo Madukaife
State Publicity Secretary