Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, on Tuesday said the Southeast is being marginalised in the country.
He however, emphasized the need for the zone to constructively engage the federal government on the issue.
Umahi stated this at the Oruta Ngele Stadium Abakaliki during his democracy day speech.
He said though the zone is not happy with the way it was being marginalised, the Governors of the five states in the region believe constructive engagement as being championed by the Governors and Ohaneze Ndigbo was the way to go.
He condemned the method being deployed by pro Biafran groups in the county which he said is inimical to peace and development of the region.
He further condemned the seat-at-home exercise called by Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB and Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, for tomorrow in the zone.
He warned that any trader in the state who fails to open his shop tomorrow in solidarity with the IPOB and MASSOB will be made to forfeit the shopsto government.
โAnd so, any trader that closes shop will forfeit the shop forever. Anybody that flouts this order will be decidedly dealt with. I ask Ebonyians to go about their businesses freely and peacefully.
โLet me say that when we the South East Governors say that we donโt want the activities of IPOB does not mean that we are very happy with the marginalization of the South East in the affairs of our nation.
โBut we are saying that the way IPOB is going to address the matter is not the right way. The right way is what the Ohanaeze Ndigbo did; which they did in the committee of Igbo people and that is what we believe.
โWe call on the federal government to look into the plights of the South East people and address the issue of marginalization. We believe in one Nigeria that is found in equity and fairness and fair playโ.
