Perturbed by the alarming level of insecurity in the Southeast Zone, governors of the zone, yesterday, met in Enugu and resolved to set up a joint 24-hour patrol team in all the major highways in the region.

They insisted that a political solution was desirable in solving the issue of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kalu, stressing that they were monitoring developments over court rulings in his trial.

The governors, who met behind closed-doors, the first this year at Enugu Government House, decried the state of insecurity in the region, stating that economic activities have come to a halt while kidnapping and wanton killings have become the order of the day.

They, therefore, urged the Federal Government to come to their aid in providing security in the zone bearing in mind that elections were around the corner.

Chairman of the Southeast Governors’ Forum and Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi, who read the communiqué after the meeting, also noted that the 24-hour joint patrol in all major highways would cover the period of the Yuletide season.

He said the meeting commended the federal and state governments on their efforts to alleviate the sufferings of the victims of the recent flood menace in parts of the country.

Umahi said they, however, believed that a long-term solution to the menace was desirable.

He added that the governors had decided to put funds together to further assist the victims of flooding in the five states in the Southeast.

“We also plead with the Federal Government to please initiate action in the dredging of rivers in the Southeast to ameliorate the destruction of houses, farmlands and property. We request the Federal Government to come to the aid of the victims in terms of rehabilitation of the internally displaced persons.

“Southeast Governors Forum jointly formed Ebubeagu and Forest Guards, not ESN. So, it is not correct for any person to allude to fact that Southeast governors created ESN,” the communiqué stated.

The governors, who expressed keen interest over the ongoing trial of Nnamdi Kanu in courts, restated their earlier stand that a “political solution is still possible in this circumstance,” just as they appealed for calm over the development.

Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State and Ebonyi State Governor/Chairman of Southeast Governors’ Forum, David Umahi, were in attendance, while governors of Anambra and Imo states, Charles Soludo and Hope Uzodimma, were represented by their deputies, Onyekachukwu Ibezi and Placid Njoku, respectively.

The Guardian