Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, has said that the South East Governors are working together to achieve regional integration, despite party leanings.

Otti, who stated this while receiving a delegation of a joint body of South East Council of traditional rulers and representatives of Igbo Archbishops and Bishops, led by the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, explained that issues of general concern such as security remains paramount to the Governors as no meaningful development can take place in an atmosphere of insecurity.

He assured that despite party leanings, the South East Governors have put governance on the front seat as they have continued to meet to discuss issues affecting the region.

“I can assure you that we are working together irrespective of our different political parties. We have made everybody to understand that after political party election and litigations, governance takes the front seat. So, we have continued to meet. We will be meeting regularly to talk about regional issues and all.

“Anyhow you look at it, we must deal with security as a region if not as a country. What feeds insecurity, to a large extent, is unemployment and poverty. It also feeds banditry and we need to do everything possible to ensure that our people have something to do.

“I have a clear plan of what to do in governance, one of my plans is to develop Aba. If Aba is developed, it can develop the whole of the South East region.

“Power supply is the major enabler required to spur development in Aba and the entire South East region. The 141 Megawatt Geometric Power Plant in Aba would be commissioned next Monday to provide uninterrupted power supply to Aba and its environs, covering about nine LGAs.”

He disclosed that his administration is engaged on discussions on how to provide the same 24 hours power supply to all parts of the State.

“That is why we are dealing with Aba and Umuahia. We have come to fix this place and we must do that. When we have fixed this place, I’m sure it will also encourage others when the results start trickling in.”

Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe said that the aim of the body which came into existence three years ago is for peace building and reconciliation in South East, noting that without peace there would be no development.

Igwe Achebe, who stated that the visit to Otti was the first physical meeting the body was holding, disclosed that the group had engaged with some Governors in the zone, virtually.

He said that the body Is committed to projecting peace, mutual respect, love and wellbeing of Ndi Igbo and commended the Governor for his achievements and the manner with which he is managing the scarce resources of the State, describing him as a standard for Igbo leaders.

Achebe urged the South East Governors to come together to bring about integration of South East region and stated need for the Igbo to build a nation within a nation to boost economic prosperity.

Other members of body at the visit were, Chairman, South East Traditional Rulers Council, Ambassador Igwe Lawrence Agubuzu; Chairman, Center for Values and Leadership/ Founding Faculty, Lagos Business School, Prof. Pat Utomi; ArchBishop Raphael Opoko of Methodist church Nigeria , ArchBishop David Onuoha of Anglican Church, Owerri; Dr. Uju Agomoh among others. (Vanguard)

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