The South East governors reiterated the commitment of the forum to forging a common socio-economic and security cooperation through a summit to be announced at a later date.
By Jeffrey Agbo
Governors of the five South East states have expressed appreciation to the security agencies in ensuring the return of peace in the region, stressing that normalcy is gradually returning.
The governors disclosed this in a communiqué on Thursday read by Imo State Governor and Chairman, South East Governors’ Forum, Senator Hope Uzodimma, shortly after the South East Governors’ Forum meeting held at the Enugu State Government House.
The meeting was also attended by Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State, Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra, Governor Alex Otti of Abia State, and Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi.
The governors reiterated the commitment of the forum to forging a common socio-economic and security cooperation through a summit to be announced at a later date.
The forum further declared that the perpetrators of insecurity and their sponsors in the region were mere criminals, who should not be dignified as legitimate agitators, but dealt with in line with the provisions of the law.
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Also fielding questions from reporters, Uzodimma, while dissociating the unrest in the region from Nnamdi Kanu, whom he said had since disowned the enforcers of sit-at-home and perpetrators of other crimes who were using his name to commit crime, said the governors of the region would continue to do everything within their powers to sustain the increasing peace and security presently being enjoyed by the South East.
The communiqué read: “The Forum firmly resolved to fight insecurity decisively in the region individually and collectively, in partnership with the Federal Government and other Stakeholders.
“We commend the security agencies for their cooperation thus far and encourage them not to relent.
“We wish to state categorically that the perpetrators of the insecurity in our region and their sponsors are criminals and should not be seen as legitimate agitators. Therefore, upon arrest, they should be dealt with in accordance with the laws of the land.
“The Forum resolved to hold the security and economic summit on a date to be announced soon.”