Rochas Okorocha

Governors of South East states will on Sunday convene an emergency meeting over increasing agitation for the secession of the zone by the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB).

Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo State said at the end of their meeting in Enugu on Tuesday that the forum needed to ensure lasting peace in the zone.

Okorocha said the governors resolved to consult widely with Ohaneze Ndi Igbo, the apex socio-cultural organisation of the zone, traditional rulers, development unions, the clergy and other stakeholders.

“In furtherance to this, the south-east governors scheduled an emergency meeting of stakeholders on Sunday Nov. 22, 2015 at Enugu.

“Attendance at the emergency meeting will include all National Assembly members, ministers from the zone and other invited stakeholders from the zone”, he said.

The governor advised IPOB/MASSOB to continue to toe the line of peace “as this is the only way to ensure development of the zone.”

Okorocha said the forum was concerned about the state of federal roads in the zone, particularly the Enugu-Onitsha express road, Aba-Ikot Ekpene, Owerri-Port Harcourt and Enugu-Port Harcourt roads.

He called on the Federal Government to intervene urgently on the roads and many others in deplorable conditions.

The governor said the forum agreed to appoint a high level Economic Advisory Committee to harness the economic potentials of the people of the area.