The second bipartisan meeting of South East political leaders scheduled to hold in Enugu on Sunday, 7th March, 2021 has reportedly failed.
The meeting, which was supposed to be a follow up to its initial parley held in Igbere, Abia State towards the 2023 general elections couldn’t go on as the expected guests failed to show up for the event.
Notice of the meeting was published on major national dailies earlier in week and was signed by Chief Whip of the Senate, Former Governor, Abia State, Senator Orjl Uzor Kalu; Senator representing Enugu West Senatorial Zone, Former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu ; Former Secretary to Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim and the Deputy Chief Whip, House of Representatives. Hon. Nkeiru Onyejeocha.
The people expected to be in the meeting were Governors and former Governors, Ministers and former Ministers, Senators and former senators, Former Senate Presidents and former Speakers of House of Representatives Members of House of Representatives and former members of House of Representatives, Speakers of State Houses of Assembly and former Speakers of State Houses of Assembly, National Chairmen or former National Chairmen of PDP, APC, APGA and other political parties from South East.
But it was gathered that only a handful of the expected participants were present at the time of the meeting and they failed to reach a consensus.
Southeast governors had earlier year, boycotted a similar meeting which was held at Igbere, Abịa State.
The governors rather decided to hold a virtual meeting during which they disassociated themselves from the bi-partisan meeting.
According to the notice of the earlier meeting held at Umuahia, National Assembly principal officers from the region led by the Senate Chief Whip, Orji Uzor Kalu; former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu and the five governors of the region were listed as conveners.
The conveners had said that the gathering was a bipartisan meeting with members of All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) , adding other political parties were expected to attend.”
But, Chairman of the Southeaat Governors Forum , Umahi, swiftly told journalists that the governors were not involved in the planning of the meeting.
Umahi, who briefed the media after a virtual meeting with the governors, said “the organisers used the names of the governors as conveners without their permission.
“Today 5th January, 2021, the South East Governors had their meeting and all the Governors were in attendance and the meeting resolved as follows:
“There was a bi-partisan meeting called today and the initiator went ahead to use the names of Governors without consulting them as part of the conveners of such a meeting.
“The Governors of South East frowns at such attitude and would want to disassociate themselves from such a meeting,” he said.
Mr Umahi, who disclosed that all the five regional governors attended the virtual Governors forum’s meeting which held at the same time as the bi-partisan meeting explained why the governors boycotted the Igbere meeting.
“If there should be such a meeting which they feel is very necessary, the governors must be seen to be informed and be part and parcel of calling such a meeting. They strongly feel that Ohanaeze is in position to speak on such issues.
The failed meeting was expected to deliberate on how the region will produce the next President of the nation in 2023 as well as other challenges confronting the region like insecurity.
