During a press conference at the presidential villa in Abuja, Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo state expressed the necessity of President Bola Tinubu’s intervention in addressing the security challenges in the South-East region.
Uzodimma revealed that South-East leaders are planning to hold a meeting with Tinubu to discuss the ongoing insecurity in the region.
The South East has been grappling with persistent violent attacks, coupled with the enforced sit-at-home orders by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Nevertheless, Uzodimma assured that the South-East leaders and governors are determined to engage with the president in order to seek his assistance in bringing about peace in the area.
He said: “My visit has to do with the security situation in the country.
“If you recall a few days ago, we had a meeting of the leadership of south-east, political and non-political leaders in conjunction with the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
“Among the resolutions from that meeting was to visit Mr President to support and intervene in our resolve in addressing the issue of insecurities.
“The south-eastern part of the country, of course, you are aware has been bedevilled with this high level of security, ranging from banditry, kidnapping activities of unknown gunmen.
“So the leadership in the zone met and agreed that working with the forum of governors from south-east will come to Mr President to formally request his intervention and additional support from the federal government to ensure that there is peace in the south-eastern part of the country.”
On whether the release of Nnamdi Kanu, IPOB leader, will be part of their request, Uzodimma simply said the leaders will discuss it with the president, not the public.
He said, “The request I have come here with is to secure an appointment to meet with the president.
“What we will tell the president when we meet him, not for the public to know. We know the problems in the south-east.
“We’ve seen what we’ve also witnessed for the period under review and we’re coming to call on the president to address the problem so there’ll be peace in the south-east.”
