Igbo leaders, made up of governors, top politicians and traditional rulers have resolved to send a delegation of elders to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari on the protests by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and also the state of infrastructure in South-East, among others.

This was the highlight of separate meetings convened by South-East governors, top politicians, traditional rulers, IPOB, MASSOB, Ohanaeze and South-East/ South-South Professionals in Enugu, yesterday.

IPOB and MASSOB have locked down the South-East and South- South for the release of the Director of Radio Biafra and IPOB Leader, Nnamdi Kanu, who the court had ordered the Department of State Services (DSS) to be brought to court today.

While South East governors, traditional rulers and some prominent Igbo leaders met at Enugu Government House, Ohanaeze Ndigbo met with the MASSOB faction, led by Uchenna Madu, representatives of IPOB and members of Ohanaeze youth wing.

At the governors’ meeting, they resolved to set up a committee to dialogue with MASSOB/IPOB as well as the Federal Government with a view to finding a lasting solution to the recent protests and agitation for Biafra. But the IPOB and MASSOB members, who met with Ohanaeze, said they would only recognise the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation to speak and act on their behalf.

However, the South-East leaders who met with the governors, said they decided to set up a committee after a compassionate review of the recent MASSOB/IPOB agitations in the country.

In a communiqué read by Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, Igbo elders said they also examined other issues, including poor state of infrastructure in the South-East, marginalisation in federal appointments and other socio-economic issues which impact on the zone.

The governors, who did not invite Ohanaeze leadership to their meeting, set up a committee to immediately resolve the crisis which has factionalised its leadership.

On the part of Ohanaeze, which met with the leadership of South East, South- South Professionals and representatives of MASSOB/IPOB, resolved that the organisation would convene an emergency meeting of the “Ime-Obi,” the highest decision-making body of the group, to discuss the current situation in Igboland.

Those who attended the governors/leaders meeting include Okorocha, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Dave Umahi (Ebonyi), Deputy Governor Anambra State, Nkem Okeke and Deputy Governor Abia State, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu.

Others were Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, former Ministers, Nnia Nwodo, Frank Ogbuewu, Sylvester Ogbaga and former deputy governor of Ebonyi State, Prof. Chigozie Ogbu, among others. Traditional rulers from the zone were also in attendance.

Those who attended the Ohanaeze meeting include President General of Ohanaeze, Enwo Igariwey, Secretary General Ohanaeze, Dr. Joe Nwaorgu, President South-East/ South-South Professionals, Emeka Ugwu-Oju, factional Director of Information, MASSOB, Uchenna Madu and two representatives of IPOB. (Daily Sun)

•Photo shows Governor Okorocha.

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