- The governors appealed to President Buhari to withdraw troops from the southeast
-
They also reinforced their desire for the restructuring of the country
after buttressing their commitment to a united and indivisible Nigeria
- The governors also insisted that the November 18, 2017 governorship election in Anambra must hold
The
governors of of the southeast region, Ohanaeze Ndigbo and other
stakeholders on Friday, September 15, after a two-hour meeting arrived
at the decision to ban activities of members of the Indigenous People of
Biafra (IPOB), led by Nnamdi Kanu.
The
meeting was attended by governors Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Dave Umahi, Okezie
Ikpeazu, and Willie Obiano. Imo state was represented by Eze Madumere,
the state's deputy governor.
The
meeting also had in attendance Chief Nnia Nwodo, president general of
Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Ike Ekweremadu, deputy senate president, and Gen. Adamu
Abubakar, the general officer commanding, 82 Division, Enugu.
A statement after the meeting read:
“Communique Arising from the emergency meeting of South East Governors
Forum at the Exco Chambers Government House, Enugu, on Friday, 15th
September, 2017
"In view of the
prevailing security situation in the South East and its attendant
consequences, the Southeast governors hereby resolves as follows:
1.
All activities of IPOB are hereby proscribed. IPOB and all other
aggrieved groups are advised to articulate their position on all
national issues and submit to the committee of governors, Ohanaeze
Ndigbo and National Assembly members from the Southeast zone, through
their chairman, Southeast governors forum.
2. All governors of Southeast zone are to ensure compliance in their respective states.
3.
Southeast governors forum, Ohanaeze Ndigbo and National Assembly
members do hereby reinforce their commitment to a united and indivisible
Nigeria.
4. We also reinforce our
desire for the restructuring of Nigeria where all national issues will
be discussed and amicably settled to achieve justice and fairness to
every Nigerian.
5. We reiterate our earlier position that the November 18, 2017 governorship election in Anambra must hold.
6.
Accordingly, we appeal to President and Commander in Chief of the Armed
Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, President
Muhammad’s Buhari GCFR to please, withdraw the military in the southeast
zone, while police perform their traditional role of maintaining law
and order.
7. Southeast governors have
taken concrete steps to protect lives and properties of indigenes and
non indigenes in the south east.
8. We
are in touch with the Northern governors forum they have assured us of
the safety of all our people living in the north and we have also
planned to exchange of visits between the Governors and to re-enforce
the confidence of Nigerians in this respect.
9.
In keeping with our earlier position, we wish to assure Nigerians that
full investigation is ongoing on all allegations of killings, maiming
and other unlawful conduct in the Southeast zone within this period. The
governors and the security agencies are in agreement that appropriate
action will be taken against anyone found culpable.
10.
We advice all residents of the Southeast to go about their normal
businesses as government of each state is committed to protecting
everybody.
11. Finally, we advise our people in the south east to please be law abiding.
The Defence Headquarters said the various activities of the IPOB group prompted this decision.
The DHQ disclosed that the Armed Forces had consequently profiled the IPOB as a terrorist organization.
Nnamdi Kanu, on his part, petitioned the European Union over the ongoing military operation in southeast region of Nigeria
To see what Nnamdi Kanu said about the Ban on IPOB by South East Governors, click the image below
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