Citizen NewsNG 
Southeast Leaders to table region’s request before President
by Chris Oji, Enugu and Ogochukwu Anioke
SOUTHEAST leaders, including governors and the region’s caucus members at the National Assembly resolved on Monday to meet President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday.
Their mission is to discuss the issues concerning the welfare of the people of the region.
The resolution was taken on Monday at a meeting at the Enugu State Government House, Enugu.
At the meeting were South-East governor’s Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu); Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia); Dave Umahi (Ebonyi), who doubles as the Chairman of the Southeast Governors’ Forum; senators Enyinnaya Abaribe; Jim Nwobodo and Victor Umeh.
Other stakeholders were: President-General of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief John Nnia Nwodo and religious leaders, including bishops of the Catholic and Anglican churches.
Imo’s deputy governor, Gerald Irona, stood in for Governor Emeka Ihedioha.
The Governors’ Forum chair declined to brief reporters on the details of what was discussed at the meeting and what the ledears plan to discuss with the President.
Umahi said: “We resolved that we are going to meet the president over the welfare of our people. When we come back we will tell you the details of the meeting.”
It was, however, discovered that the closure of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu by the Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), featured at the meeting.
Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika, on Monday, explained why reconstruction of the airport’s runway has not started, several weeks after the airport was shut for refurbishment.
According to Sirika, the project, expected to cover N10 billion was not captured in the 2019 budget.
The minister spoke of an ongoing arrangement to accommodate the project under a Special Intervention Fund, saying the runway was being treated as an emergency case.
A statement by Mr. Umahi’s Special Assistant on Media, Francis Nwaze, said that the governors noted that the full details of their meeting would be made available after the meeting with the President.
