BY AGNES NWORIE, ABAKALIKI
GOVERNORS of Southeastern states of Nigeria have pledged to protect all ethnic groups living in the South East, while also asking youths from the zone not to participate in any unlawful protest, in or outside Nigeria.
They made the pledge in a Communique jointly issued by South East Governors, National assembly members, Ministers, South East Clergymen, leadership of traditional rulers, Igbo leaders and women leaders at the end of a crucial meeting, held at the Executive Council Chambers, Government House, Enugu State.
The stakeholders sympathised with families of victims, including the Police, other security agencies, and all those who lost properties in the recent violence unleashed on various parts of the country, following the #EndSARS agitation.
They promised to engage the youths to ensure sustainable peace in the South East and a glorious future for the children.
According to them, each state in the South East will set up a fund to assist the victims of the crisis, including the Police, the Army, other security agencies, as well as civilians, and will engage the Federal Government and their colleagues in other states to address the other issues that are national.
The South East stakeholders stressed, “We advise all our youths that, while our Governors are working hard to meet their demands, the destruction of public and private properties and killing of security agents and civilans will never be allowed to continue.
“We, therefore, direct all lgbos, both in and outside Nigeria, to go about their businesses and should not participate in any form of unlawful protest and criminality.
“We offer to protect all ethnic groups living in the South East and we thank other parts of Nigeria, for protecting our people in their areas too.”
