to shy away from the spirit of individualism and unite to achieve the
political aspirations that had eluded them for the development of the
region.
Speaking on Thursday at the South East Security and Economic Summit in
Enugu, Obasanjo, said that the zone would not achieve much with continued
individualism and lack of cohesion amongst them.
He said the people of the area seemed to have forgotten their spirit of
enterprise and communal efforts, which stood them apart from other ethnic
groups in the country.
He said the zone was unique and that it needed to use its uniqueness to
its advantage to negotiate the actualisation of their aspirations.
“The South East is known for their spirit of enterprise and adventure and
you have to utilize it for improved development and security.
“You must work together and not be divided. You must shy away from the
spirit of individualism and must earn solidarity with your neighbours,” he
said.
Obasanjo urged the state governments to leverage on the abundant natural
resources in the zone to improve the lives of their people.
He said that the South East could be the food basket of the nation, adding
that state governments needed to take the responsibility of engaging the
youths to check restiveness.
“I don’t think I should be eulogized for facilitating this summit in the
South East because I did the same thing when I visited Maiduguri because
of the problem of Boko Haram,” Obasanjo said.
Earlier, the Chairman of the summit, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, had said that
the event was non-partisan and a commitment to the economic and security
well-being of the region.
Anyaoku, who is a former Secretary General of the Commonwealth said that
the South East felt neglected as it was experiencing the worst economic
challenge in the country.
“Although every other zone in the country is experiencing economic malaise
but that of the South East is more grievous.
“There is a sense of neglect and non-inclusion in this zone by the Federal
Government and that is why coordination among the state governments is
very necessary,” he said.
He, therefore, appealed to the state governors and the organised private
sector to devote greater attention to building bridges of unity in the
zone.
Anyaoku said there would be no need for the Federal Government to
periodically bailout state governments if the country was restructured
with fewer federating units.
“The summit is also working for the advancement of the entire country. If
the Nigerian federation is restructured with fewer units this country will
achieve greater stability,” Anyaoku said.
The event was attended by governors of Enugu, Abia, Ebonyi and the deputy
governor of Anambra state.
Other dignitaries that attended the event include former vice president,
Chief Alex Ekwueme, Deputy Senate President, Chief Ike Ekweremadu,
Maj.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika (rtd.).
The rest are government officials from the five South East states, members
of the state houses of assembly and others.