Daily Independent (Lagos)
Emmanuel Nzomiwu
28 November 2008
Enugu — The governors of all the five states of the South East zone have agreed to work jointly with members of the National Assembly from the zone for the general interest of their people who are of Igbo extraction.
Areas where both parties are going to work together include state creation, the poor infrastructure in the South East Zone, especially deplorable state of roads and the grievous ecological quagmire facing their people. This common agenda was adopted at a closed door meeting between the governors and members of the National Assembly from the zone, which was held at Nike Lake Resort Hotel, Enugu on Friday.
According to Saturday Independent sources, most of the speakers at the meeting lamented the pitiable state of infrastructure in the South East zone and the ecological problems that the people are facing.
The speakers at the meeting also expressed worry over the number of people from their zone predominantly of Igbo extraction who are in gulags outside the country over one criminal offence or the other.
Statistics available at the meeting showed that three Igbo have been executed in Indonesia for drug related offences while at least 18 are on death row in the same country while over 2000 Igbo are in detention for various criminal offences in South Africa.
Most of the speakers at the meeting linked the high incidence of Igbo in detention to dearth of employment opportunities in the South East and marginalisation of people from the zone in appointments into Federal ministries and agencies including military and paramilitary organisations.
Those who spoke at the meeting include Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, his counterparts , Sullivan Chime (Enugu), Ikedi Ohakim (Imo), Martin Elechi (Ebonyi) and Theodore Orji (Abia).
Briefing reporters on the outcome of the meeting that lasted over four hours, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu said that the governors and the Federal lawmakers from the zone deliberated on issues affecting their people.
Ekweremadu said that several issues affecting the South East, including the ecological problems and the state of infrastructure in the zone featured during the meeting.
Ekweremadu however explained that part of the reasons for the meeting was to discuss common issues affecting the zone and resolve on necessary actions to take.
He said that the meeting, which would be held on a quarterly basis henceforth, is an avenue to discuss the issue of infrastructure in the zone and how the problem could be addressed.
In a chat at the end of the meeting, Senator Uche Chukwumerije and member representing Aguata Federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Chukwuma Umeorji described the meeting as a very good development since it was the first time that political office holders were coming together irrespective of the political party they belong to.
Umeorji further described the meeting as a sign of emerging leadership in the South East zone, comprising of Governors and members of the National Assembly who are committed towards improving infrastructure in the zone while tackling all ecological problems facing the people.
Umeorji said that unlike the past when governors saw members of the National Assembly as rivals, the current South East governors and Federal legislators from the zone see each other as partners in the business of promoting development and bettering lives of the Igbo.
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