South East Govs fully in support of summit on security, economy – Ekwunife
By Emma Ogbuehi
As preparations for the momentous South East Security and Economic Summit are being perfected, governors of the region have unequivocally taken ownership of the event.
Their position was made known by the Director General of the South East Governors Forum (SEGF), Senator Uche Ekwunife.
Ekwunife reiterated in a statement on Monday that the governors of the five South East states – Dr. Alex Otti, Abia; Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, Anambra; Rt. Hon. Francis Nwifuru, Ebonyi; Barrister Peter Mbah, Enugu; and Senator Hope Uzodimma, Imo – are fully in support of the summit scheduled to hold in Owerri, Imo State, on Thursday, September 28, and Friday, September 29, 2023.
According to Ekwunife, “The governors of the South East region are fully in support of the South East Security and Economic Summit and are making plans to participate at the summit with key officials of their respective governments.
“The Planning Committee and the various subcommittees have been working hard over the past months to ensure a successful outing. We are hopeful that the deliberations at the summit will lead to key deliverable and measurable targets, which if implemented will contribute to the development trajectory of the South-East region.”
The Director-General, therefore, enjoined all those invited to the summit to participate fully and contribute their quota towards making the long-dreamt revitalization of the region a reality.
“We expect that the invitees will participate fully. Many have talked about South East renaissance. It is a project for all of us not just the governors. We all have a role to play, through our ideas, suggestions, resources, through fulfilling our civic obligations and supporting the socioeconomic programmes of the various South-East governors,” Ekwunife said.
With the public declaration of support for the summit by the governors, all the stakeholders in the region have fully come on board.
READ ALSO: Decision to hold Igbo Day 2023, South East Summit concurrently strategic, says Iwuanyanwu
No clash between South East Summit, Igbo Day 2023 – Sen. Chris Anyanwu
It will be recalled that the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, also on Monday, threw its considerable weight behind the summit and dismissed the insinuation in certain quarters of imminent conflict following the decision of Ndigbo to hold both the Igbo Day 2023 and South East Summit on Security and Economy concurrently on September 28 and 29.
In a statement which he personally signed, and reported by TheNiche, Ohanaeze President General, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, unequivocally stated that there was neither conflict nor clash between the 2023 Igbo Day celebration and the Summit.
Iwuanyanwu said the decision to hold both events concurrently was strategic and in the best interest of the region.
His statement amplified the assertion by Senator Chris Anyanwu, chairperson of the South East Summit on Security and Economy, on Sunday, that both events are mutually complementary and have the approval and support of all the South East governors and the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.
