Southern Governors’ Forum: Four South-east Governors’ Absence Violates Good Taste
Chima Christian
Governors Dave Umahi, Hope Uzodinma, Willie Obiano and Okezie Ikpeazu’s absence at yesterday’s meeting of Southern Governors’ Forum in Enugu noticeably violates good taste. All things considered, the four of them might have had legitimate reasons that kept them away from such an important meeting.
Yet, at such a time as this when the south-east is almost up in flames, one begins to imagine what could be more important to these governors than a meeting its outcome could douse the tensions in the south-east.
The optics is not right. This is especially with the reported backtracking of Governor Uzodinma on some of the previous resolutions of the Southern Governor’s Forum; and Gov. Umahi’s resoundingly denounced prayers that God visits Nigeria with another plague in 2023.
It is double tragedy for those of us in Anambra. While the other three south-east governors sent their deputies to the meeting, neither Willie Obiano nor his deputy, Nkem Okeke, showed up!
Those of us in Anambra are already counting in weeks before man Willie and his government is taken care of by nature. It is however terrible that not only does our government fail to implement resolutions reached by Southern Governors Forum, it now has the impudence to stay away completely!
Willie Obiano is fast writing his own evaluation.
APGA always claim to be the party of the Igbos. Yet, as at this morning, the APGA led government of Anambra State has not sent the agreed Anti-Open Grazing Bill to the State House of Assembly, let alone the APGA-controlled House (for now) deliberating on it. APGA has also not clearly demonstrated that it is doing all it can, and also strategically engaging the federal government to resolve matters most affecting Ndị Igbo.
Current mood in the south-east derives from such obvious disconnect of political actors from issues affecting everyday citizens. We are thankful that Gov. Ugwuanyi and Enugu State House of Assembly are gradually stepping up to the plate.
We are also thankful that Candidate Andy Uba’s “connecting Anambra to the centre” hogwash is being resoundingly rejected by everyday Ndi Anambra. Never mind that a handful of political operators, who are willing to sell Ndị Anambra for crumbs, defected to create a smokescreen.
PDP has its faults. Those nonetheless, it is fast becoming clear that it presents Ndi Anambra with the most credible alternative. Yesterday’s Southern Governors Forum, and the events leading to it, is both a warning and a confirmation.
