Southeast governors Meet, reject relocation of Boko Haram suspects.

Governors from the Southeast zone yesterday condemned the relocation of Boko
Haram suspects to Ekwulobia Prisons in Anambra state.
They noted that the presence of the terror suspects in the region was creating
tension and fear and urged the federal government to relocate them to Abuja
“where there is security”

The governors might have been referring to the series of protests in Anambra
state by traders and some community leaders over the relocation of the
prisoners to the state.
The governors met yesterday in Owerri, the Imo State capital.
Apart from host Goveror Rochas Okorocha. In attendance were Governors
Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) and Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia).
Ebonyi State Governor Dave Umahi was represented by Deputy Governor Kelechi
Igwe.
Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano was “unavoidably absent” according to
Okorocha.
 The Imo State governor told reporters after the meeting that lasted for about
two and a half hours deliberated on the possible consequences of the
relocation of the Boko Haram suspects and concluded that it was not in the
best interest of the zone.
He said though the decision was purely a security matter, it has far-reaching
effect on the psyche of the people in the zone. “We are appealing to the Federal
Government to have a rethink on the relocation of the Boko Haram suspects. If
there is any place they should be relocated to it should be Abuja where they
have enough security.
The issue is already creating security concern in the zone”.
He however ruled out any plan by the governors to recall Igbo in the troubled
North, stressing that, “we are all part of the entity called Nigeria and we share
in the plight of our brothers in the North East, so it is not the issue of recalling
the Igbo in any part of the country but to make sure that they are secured
anywhere they find themselves”.
The Forum according to him, also deliberated on the fate of the Igbo displaced
in the North as a result of the insurgency and appealed to the Federal
Government to adequately compensate them.
Other decisions by the governors are that Enugu State should remain the capital
of the Southeast and the meeting point of the Southeast Governors’ Forum.
According to him: “We have met today and agreed to work together as
governors from the Southeast zone to combat security challenges confronting
the zone, especially kidnapping, armed robbery and baby factory. We are going
to write the Federal Government to adequately equip security operatives in the
zone to ensure adequate security in the zone”.
He said the Forum had agreed to build an economic hub in the zone to boost
trade, which he said is the main occupation of the people: “We have looked at
the current economic situation in the country and how it affects our people who
are majorly traders and we have decided to build an economic hub in the zone
and a committee was set up for that and it is headed by the Abia state
governor”.
He said that the South East governors have come to realize the need for them
to come together and work in the overall interest of the people of the zone since
the period of politics had come and gone and what is now left is service delivery
to the people of the area.
The governors disowned Radio Biafra and said the Radio in question does not
have the endorsement of the SouthEast governors. And that the security
agencies would do their job.
Okorocha also said the South East governors have resolved to meet with
President Muhammadu Buhari to catalogue what the administration will do for
the people of South East zone
The Forum also agreed to create an economic hub. A committee to work on it
will be chaired by the Abia State governor.
The Nation