South-East Governors Want Security For Ngige
- Insists on Presidency in 2007; Gov. Nnamani Of Enugu Absent
FROM UZOMA NZEAGWU
AND CHUKS COLLINS, AWKA
GOVERNORS from the Southeast geo-political zone yesterday re-echoed their resolve to have a president of Igbo extraction for the country in 2007.
Rising from a conference in Awka, Anambra State, the governors, in a six-point resolution also expressed concern over the continued withdrawal of police aides for Governor Chris Ngige, the Government House and Government Lodge in Awka.
While appealing to Nigerians to give full backing to the Igbo presidency project "in the interest of equity, justice and fairplay;" the governors also urged President Olusegun Obasanjo to call on the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Tafa Balogun to restore Governor Ngige's security.
However, the Anambra State chairman of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo disagreed with the governors on the 2007 presidential project, saying that it was still too early for the issue.
He explained that everyone should first of all concentrate on building political bridges across other zones and ethnic nationalities nationwide before the Igbo presidency should be concretised.
The governors' Awka resolution was signed by Achike Udenwa of Imo State, Dr. Orji Uzo Kalu (Abia), Dr. Sam Egwu (Ebonyi) and Dr. Chris Ngige (Anambra) and read to newsmen at about 1 a.m. yesterday. The conference lasted two days.
Enugu State Governor, Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani was absent at the conference and did not send any representative, strengthening the speculation that all is still not well between him and Dr. Ngige.
It would be recalled that Ngige did not attend the governors' meeting hosted by Nnamani in Enugu.
Deliberating on other issues concerning the zone particularly the bad roads, the governors unanimously agreed that there was the need for rehabilitation of these roads and the construction of a second Niger Bridge.
They implored the Federal Government to release the counterpart funding for the building of a second Niger Bridge and also ensure that a technically competent construction firm was considered to handle the project.
The conference, which described the second Niger Bridge as "very important," called on the government to expedite action on the project.
The mantle of leadership of the Governors' Conference now falls on Governor Egwu from the immediate past chairman, Achike Udenwa of Imo State.
