Igbo leaders rise from 2-day Enugu meeting, demand  2023 Igbo presidency * Creation of equity state * Disarming of killer herdsmen * Appoint Nwodo to lead delegation to Buhari

Igbo leaders rise from 2-day Enugu meeting, demand  2023 Igbo presidency

* Creation of equity state

* Disarming of killer herdsmen

* Appoint Nwodo to lead delegation to Buhari

 

By Steve Oko

South East leaders have risen from their two-day strategic meeting in Enugu with a demand for the zone to be ceded the right to produce Nigerian President in 2023, and creation of parity state among others.

Present at the meeting were the entire Igbo leaders, including South East Governors, the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, pro-Biafra group, the political class, traditional and religious leaders of Igbo extraction.

The meeting was an offshoot of the recent#EndSARS protestes across the country and clashes with security agents in some cities which claimed lives of both security personnel and the protesters.

The meeting was held at the Enugu State Government House also had in attendance present and past National Assembly members from the zone, South East clergy, Igbo leaders and women leaders

 

The Igbo leaders insisted that the South East should be given the opportunity to be president of Nigeria in 2023.

In the communique that was read by the leader of MASSOB, Comrade Uchenna Madu, on behalf of the people, they also demanded for disarming of killer herdsmen with AK-47 in the South East, whom they said have occupied their forests and farmlands, destroying, kidnapping, and killing their women.

The leaders, however, pledged to live and work peacefully with their brothers and sisters and herdsmen, who have been living peacefully with them.

They also demanded the creation of one extra State in the South East to bring it at par with other zones.

The Igbo also demanded that the South East Governors should determine locations, where road blocks are necessary in the zone, especially in emergency situations with a view to addressing the complains of their people about many road blocks and extortions in the South East.

The communique read in part: “There’s serious discrimination and marginalisation of South East Federal civil servants. We want the FG to look into this.

“Each state must set up youth Rehabilitation and empowerment fund to address youth unemployment in the South East.

“South East should set up monitoring committee in each state made up of youths, Igbo leaders, traditional rulers, clergymen and Governors’ representatives and women to monitor compensation and empowerment fund in the South to be set up by Governors and the FG.

“The Igbo youths and MASSOB noted with sadness, that Igbo land is being discriminated against in the allocation of Federal infrastructural projects.

“We  specifically noted that all the Federal roads in Igbo land are in a terrible State of disrepair. We therefore demand that the FG should immediately approve a substantial intervention fund to complete these road projects.

“We also demand that substantial allocation be made for major infrastructural projects in the 2021 budget currently before the NASS.

“That the president General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo should lead a delegation of South East youth representatives and selected Igbo leaders to the presidency, to make their demand known to Mr President”.

Wawa News Global reports that some of the eminent Igbo leaders at the meeting were the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo; Governors Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Dave Umahi and Okezie Ikpeazu of Enugu, Ebonyi and Abia sates, respectively.

Others were the Deputy Governors of Imo and Anambra States who represented their principals.

Present also were the Minister for Foriegn Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama; former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu; Senators Sam Egwu and Rochas Okorocha.

Others included former Governor of Enugu state, Okweseileze Nwodo; Former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Chief Dubem Onyia; Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu.

The Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe, and religious leaders from the zone were also present at the meeting.

Steve Oko, Publisher/C.E.O, WaWa News Global. For more information on advert placement and news coverage, contact us on: 08038725600, or via email stevemanofgod2000@yahoo.com; wawanewsglobal@gmail.com Always read WaWa News Global - Your most dependable online news platform for the latest breaking news in Nigeria.

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