PRESS RELEASE
02/09/2011
Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State has advocated an integrated and collective approach to conflict and violence control as a prerequisite for building a robust economy in the South East zone.
The governor who was speaking at the opening of a two-day summit at the Nike lake resort Enugu observed that the South East region has been exposed to conflicts and violence with its attendant adverse effect on the economy.
According to him, kidnapping and other politically induced violence have impeded movement of people and trade in the zone and opined that Inter- State mobilization will help stem the tide.
Chief Orji maintained that inter sate collaboration will limit the damage done by criminal violence and advocated that the zone should use collaborative public policies including the sharing of information on violence control.
He suggested the rebuilding of the moral order of the region and through it re-ignite the confidence of the people in entrepreneurship.
Declaring the summit open earlier, Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State who represented president Goodluck Jonathan at the occasion said the timing and agenda of the summit is apt as the essence is to highlight the pitfalls in the economy of the zone as well as to chart a new course for its rejuvenation.
He expressed the hope that summit the summit would mark the beginning of the rebirth of the zone and its economy and stated that the South East governors forum has made relentless efforts to improve the economy of the zone.
The president general Ohaneze Ndigbo, Amb. Ralph Uwaechue identified collective self reliance as a panacea for Igbo economic transformation and commended the unity that exists among the South East governors.
Goodwill messages and papers were presented by resorce persons at the summit which was attended by the South East governors as well as many eminent sons and daughters of Igboland.
