CRISIS DEEPENS INSIDE SOUTH-EAST GOVERNORS’ FORUM – OKOROCHA, OBIANO AND OTHERS SHUN MEETING

The crisis rocking the South-East Governors’ Forum has taken a turn for the worst as Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State and his counterpart, Willie Obiano of Anambra State shunned the forum’s meeting in Enugu on Sunday.

Governors at the meeting included Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Okezie Ikpeaze and Dave Umahi of Enugu, Abia and Ebonyi respectively.
 

It was also attended by the Deputy Senate President, Chief Ike Ekweremadu and former governors Peter Obi of Anambra and Ikedi Ohakim of Imo.

Former governors of Ebonyi, Abia and Enugu, Chief Martin Elechi, Senator Theodore Orji and Sullivan Chime, who were equally invited to the meeting, were absent.

It could be re-called that ever since former Governor Theodore Orji served out his tenure as Chairman of the Forum, it has been embroiled in leadership tussle.

Sources hinted that while Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State has interest in the position, being the oldest among the governors, his colleagues are insisting that the position should be rotating among the five states.

Also following Elechi’s absence, the source disclosed that ex-Governor Obi had been asked to prevail on him to attend the next meeting.

According to the source, “Elechi insisted that he would not be part of the meeting so long as Umahi, his successor, was present.”

Addressing journalists after the meeting, Ekweremadu said it was a meeting of South-East Governors aimed at reviewing the current attack on Enugu community by herdsmen as well as the recently signed 2016 budget.

He said the meeting commended Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi over “the steps he has taken so far” with regards to attack on Nimbo community.

He added that “we are satisfied with measures put in place to stop a re-occurence of such incident. We have been able to come up with more lasting strategies”.

The meeting equally commended the All Progressives Congress, APC, Governors for their solidarity visit to Ugwuanyi as well as the media and Nigerians in general.

Speaking on the 2016 budget, Ekweremadu said the zone would follow up on the projects in the zone, which included the Enugu-Onitsha Express Road, the Aba-Ikot-Ekpene Road, among others.

On why some former governors were present at the meeting, whereas Okorocha and Obiano were absent, he said “it is always good to have the benefit of experienced hands. It is important to draw from their wealth of experience.

“The other governors, we believe that in the next meeting that will be here; they support all the decisions we took here.”