Biafra: South-East governors to discuss complaints with Buhari – Umahi

Ebonyi State Governor, David Nweze Umahi, has restated his resolve to retain his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) even as he confirmed decision of South-East governors to discuss the complaints of Biafran agitators with President Muhammadu Buhari.

Umahi was reacting to speculations in a section of the media that he was set to move to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) when the leadership of the Abakpa Main Market Traders Association, visited him at the Government House in Abakaliki on Thursday.

He said, “When I said publicly that Ebonyi people will support Mr. President, they said, we have moved to the APC. PDP remains our party and will remain our party.

“But we need help and the way to get it is not to start castigating the President and no governor should castigate the President. But opposition belongs to the political parties. For me and you, we are still bonafide members of the PDP.”

On the increasing wave of the activities of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Umahi stated that the South-East governors had listened to the complaints of the IPOB agitators and had decided to discuss them with the President.

“We have listened to the complaints of the boys. There is no way anybody could say that what they are saying is completely outside the truth, but just like husband and wife, you must have a way of getting along through dialogue.

“The governors of the South-East have taken up their matter to discuss with Mr. President and I believe that we don’t need another war in this country. I want to plead with you to encourage whoever is involved that we have taken up the matter and we will do everything possible to make sure that their feelings are addressed.

“We should not support secession. We should not support demonstrations; we should not support the castigation of our leaders”.

Umahi maintained that his government was poised to redefining Abakaliki by looking inwards on how to take advantage of its location as a transit point to “realise our potential.”

Urging the traders to key into the vision of his administration, he stated that the first batch of traders would be relocated to the International Market in April 2016.

According to him, the second batch will be relocated in June while the third and final batches will be in September.

He further announced that the government would be constructing additional vehicular parks and warehouses beside the Centenary City, opposite the International Market as a measure to minimize the inconveniences that traders might face when they move into the International Market.

Earlier in an address, the Chairman of AMMTA, Comrade Emeka Nwome, commended the governor on his life touching achievements within six months in office.

In a related development, traders under the auspices of South-East Amalgamated Market Traders Association (SEAMATA) yesterday expressed support for pro- Biafran movement but condemned the invasion of the market by the pro-Biafra agitators.

SEAMATA, in a statement signed by its President General, Chief Okwudili Ezenwankwo and the Secretary, Mr. Temple Udeh said in as much as the traders support the movement for Biafran state it condemned the attitude of the pro-Biafra agitators/ protesters that was infiltrated by miscreants.