Ngige hosts South-East governors today
From Chuks Collins,
Onitsha
FOR the first time since its inception, the South-East Governors' Forum will be in Awka as the Anambra State Governor Chris Nwabueze Ngige hosts them at the Government House.
The governors who are expected this afternoon at the Anambra Governor's Lodge, Amawbia, for their regular monthly meeting were likely to look into pressing issues affecting the zone.
During a press briefing yesterday afternoon in his office, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media/Publicity, Mr. Fred Chukwuelobe, told journalists that adequate preparations had been made to host the august visitors.
He said the governors would "inevitably discuss a way forward for the political well-being of the people of the South East, side by side other pressing issues."
Although it was not clear who and who among the five governors of Enugu, Ebonyi, Abia and Imo States would be coming, going by the poor attendance and lukewarm relationship among them. The Guardian learnt that a statement would be issued immediately, which would be proceeded by a press briefing at the meeting venue.
Fears were however, expressed that Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani of Enugu, who have failed to attend similar functions in any part of the South East in the last five years, might again stay away, especially going by the perceived frosty relationship between him and Ngige.
However, governors Orji Kalu, Sam Egwu and Achike Udenwa of Abia, Ebonyi and Imo states are high on the list of expected guests.
It could be recalled that the July 10, 2003 abduction saga in Anambra State, which threatened to remove Governor Ngige through a subterfuge, had undermined the cohesion and relevance of the Forum.
This was because some of the governors were known to have tacitly been supporting and cavorting with the masterminds of the abduction saga.
Besides Kalu and Egwu who "rushed down" to Awka on July 11, Udenwa and Nnamani were not known to have made any reference to the crisis.
Not even when the security details were withdrawn from Ngige early this year as a result of a judgment by Justice Stanley Nnaji sitting at the Enugu High Court.
Also, Enugu is said to have remained the base and abode of the key figure in the abduction, including the figure-character, Chief Chris Uba.
