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| The governors during their visit to Imo |
Northern governors have said all Nigerians have a moral obligation to make the country work, insisting that “the country is for us to make or mar.”
The governors made this known in Owerri, the Imo state capital, Monday night, during a courtesy visit on Governor Rochas Okorocha in Government House, Owerri.
The visit by the governors on a peace mission to the South-East, South-South regions, having earlier visited Abia and Rivers States, was part of ongoing efforts to douse tension and promote peace and dialogue among all sections of the country.
The team was led by the chairman of the forum of northern governors, who is also governor of Borno State, Alhaji Kashim Shattima. Others on the team were Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi and Hon Simon Lalong of Plateau States.
The delegation during the visit to the states reassured their counterparts that all Nigerians are free to stay in all parts of the country, especially in the North, and that the entire North stands with the people of South East in this period of heightened tension, a statement by Tambuwal's spokesman, Malam Imam Imam, on behalf of the other governors, stated.
It would be recalled that there have been clashes of recent between soldiers and the members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in some parts of Abia State, especially Aba and Umuahia. This resulted in the reported death of some youths in the state.
Speaking on behalf of the governors at the Owerri leg of the visit, chairman of the Northern Governors Forum and Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, said they were in the South-East to identify with their colleague governors and to reassure their people that governors of the South-East were equal to the task.
Shettima said they were able to speak to the northerners in Abia, adding that their aim was to prevent mass movement of Nigerians from one place to another.
Noting that the hope of the black man rests with the people of this country, the Borno Governor said Nigeria is a rainbow coalition endowed with human and material resources.
On the quit notice earlier issued to Ndigbo living in the North by the Arewa youth, Shettima said nobody has any right to give quit notice to any Nigerian.
He however observed that the Northern youths capitalised on activities of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). He said however that they reached out to the Arewa youths, told them the implications, and persuaded them to withdraw the notice.
In his response, the chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum and Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, commended the visiting governors for their peace initiative and for a job well done.
Okorocha said Nigeria’s problems had remained largely because of lack of communication. He said it’s important the governors communicate not just with themselves but also with the people.
He added that there was a feeling of abandonment in the South-East, especially since President Muhammadu Buhari came to power, saying the coming of the northern governors now to bridge the gap was a step in the right direction.
Okorocha further noted that it’s incumbent on the governors to visit one another and promised that the South-East governors would reciprocate the visit.
"Apart from the visit to political leaderships in those states, the delegation is also meeting with traditional and religious leaders and also conferred with Northerners resident in those states.
Newsmartng gathered that the visit has the blessing of President Muhammadu Buhari and consultations will continue with all stakeholders so as to enhance unity and peace in the federation.
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