South East, South-South Governors Meet on Inter-Regional Integration

South East, South-South Governors Meet on Inter-Regional Integration

Following Ohaneze Ndigbo’s rejection of the call by separatist groups for the creation of a breakaway nation of Biafra, South East and South South governors have decided to form an inter-regional integration to speed up development in the neigbouring regions.

Groups such as the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Movement for the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and called for the Igbo in the South East to seceed from Nigeria and form a breakaway Biafra Republic.

But the call is being rejected by the Igbo cultural organisation, Ohaneze Ndigbo.

During the meeting, which was held on Sunday Night in Enugu, the governors of both regions resolved to hasten development by supporting inter-regional cooperation and integration.

The governors who also discuss the growing call for restructuring agreed that it was better for both regions to work together for development rather than seceding away from Nigeria, the Punch reports.

The governors also decided to hold a follow-up meeting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on August 27.

The governors also chose  Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel, as their chairman of the new inter-regional alliance.

Emmanuel told journalist after the meeting that lasted over 5 hours that the governors were unanimous in their decision to forge ahead together.

“Having reviewed the state of the nation, particularly as it concerns the South-East and South-South geopolitical zones, we have resolved to pursue inter-regional cooperation of integration for the benefit of the two regions.

“We have resolved to politically work together and realign as a people that share a common heritage, culture and affinity.”

The Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, had, in an address at the opening session of the meeting, stressed the need for cooperation between the South-East and the South-South.

Ugwuanyi noted that the two zones “are joined by tradition, geography and brotherhood, and also by common challenges.”

He said Igbo leaders have agreed “on a restructured Nigeria, where peace, love, equity and opportunities are paramount, regardless of creed, ethnicity, gender and political affiliations.”

“It is against this background, therefore, that the meeting of the South-East and the South-South, becomes important,” Ugwuanyi explained.

The meeting had nearly all the governors in the two zones in attendance.

Apart from Ugwuanyi and Emmanuel, other governors at the meeting include Okezie Ikpeazu, (Abia); Rochas Okorocha, (Imo); Dave Umahi, (Ebonyi); Seriake Dickson, (Bayelsa); Nyesom Wike, (Rivers); and Ben Ayade, Cross River.

Willie Obiano of Anambra was represented by his deputy, Nkem Okeke.

Godwin Obaseki, Edo, and Ifeanyi Okowa, Delta, were, however, absent.