Governors of the south-east region of Nigeria have vowed to end the sit-at-home order by the proscribed group IPOB.
In a communique issued on Tuesday after an emergency security meeting in Enugu, Enugu State, which was convened to discuss the security crisis in the region, which many believe is caused by the pro-Biafra group, IPOB.
The sit-at-home order, which is observed every Monday in Imo, Enugu, Anambra, Abia, and Ebonyi states, has continuously disrupted the economic and social activities in the region and posed huge security threat to travellers trasversing the region.
The order is meant to put pressure on the Nigerian government to release the IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, who is standing trial in Abuja for alleged terrorism.
“The meeting condemned the sit-at-home orders, which are mostly issued by our people in diaspora who do not feel the pains, the meeting resolved that Governors and all (the) people of the South-east do everything within the law to ensure that there is no further sit-at-home in the South-east and that the people are allowed to freely move about in the zone,” the governors said in the communique.
The governors condemned the killings in the region and agreed to support security agencies to restore peace.
The governor agreed that all the states in the South-east should pass a law before the end of 2021 to give legal backing to the setting up of a joint security outfit, Ebubeagu, in the region.
The meeting also mandated clergymen, the Christian Association of Nigeria, Ohanaeze and traditional rulers to continue to dialogue with youths in the region.
The Governors of Ebonyi, Imo and Enugu states and the deputy governor of Abia were Present at the meeting that also had in attendance, Senators Ike Ekweremadu, Enyinnaya Abaribe, Tobi Okechukwu, Victor Umeh, former governors, National Assembly members from the region, a former chief of Army Staff, Azubuike Ihejirika, clergymen and traditional rulers.
Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra was conspicuously absent at the meeting, neither was the state represented although governorship elections in Anambra is scheduled to hold on November 6.
The governors resolved to support the conduct of the Anambra election, and called on security agencies to ensure that the election is peaceful.
Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State hosted the meeting.
