Again, South East Governors, Other Political Leaders Shun Bipartisan Regional Meeting Convened By Senator Kalu

Posted by Ignatius Okpara Featured, Latest Headlines, News Across Nigeria, News From The State Monday, March 8th, 2021

(AFRICAN EXAMINER) – Political leaders and other Stakeholders in South East Nigeria, on Sunday shunned the widely publicized bi- partisan regional meeting convened by Senate Chief Whip, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu in Enugu.

It reports that notice of the failed meeting has been running in several Nigeria’s National Dailies as paid advertisement in the last two weeks.

Our Correspondent who was at the Enugu government House, venue for the meeting, observed that all the incumbent and ex- governors, members of the National Assembly NASS from the five states of the South- East geo political serving and former Ministers, among other leaders boycotted the failed gathering.

A Source who craved anonymity, said the failed meeting was convened by the former Abia state governor to seek ways of actualising president of Igbo extraction in 2023.

Although, the conveners bluntly, apparently due to the low turnout of expected participants, sources said those who were in attendance could not reach a consensus.

It would be recalled that governors of Southeast had earlier in the year boycotted a similar meeting which was held at Igbere, the Country home of Senator Orji in Abia state.

The governors rather decided to hold a virtual meeting during which they disassociated themselves from the bi-partisan meeting.

According to the notice of the earlier meeting held at Umuahia, National Assembly principal officers from the region led by the Senate Chief Whip, Orji Uzor Kalu; former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu and the five governors of the region were listed as conveners.

The conveners had said that the gathering was a “bipartisan meeting with members of All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) , adding other political parties were expected to attend.”

But, Chairman of the South east Governors Forum , Umahi, swiftly told journalists that the governors were not involved in the planning of the meeting.

Umahi, who briefed the media after a virtual meeting with the governors, said “the organisers used the names of the governors as conveners without their permission.”

“Today 5th January, 2021, the South East Governors had their meeting and all the Governors were in attendance and the meeting resolved as follows:

“There was a bi-partisan meeting called today and the initiator went ahead to use the names of Governors without consulting them as part of the conveners of such a meeting.

“The Governors of South East frowns at such attitude and would want to disassociate themselves from such a meeting,” he said.

Mr Umahi, who disclosed that all the five regional governors attended the virtual Governors forum’s meeting which held at the same time as the bi-partisan meeting explained why the governors boycotted the Igbere meeting.

“If there should be such a meeting which they feel is very necessary, the governors must be seen to be informed and be part and parcel of calling such a meeting. They strongly feel that Ohanaeze is in position to speak on such issues.

Only very few political leaders, amongst whom are Nigeria’s Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, Senator Kalu, and Senator Chukwuka Utazi, from Enugu state were cited rushing to their waiting SUV vehicles