THE Chairman of Southeast Governors’ Forum, David Umahi of Ebonyi State, has debunked the rumour milling round that there is plan to Islamise Igbo land.
Governor Umahi, who debunked the rumour that plan was underway to islamise the South Eastern states of the country, explained that the banking system attached to the religion was Federal Government loan programme which had nothing to do with religion.
According to him “there is something that has been agitating the minds of some of our Christian brothers and sisters and we read on pages of newspaper that Enugu State, Ebonyi State and Abia State want to Islamise South East.
“The banking system has nothing to do with religion. So, it has nothing actually to do with whether we’re Christians or whether we’re Muslims. And in any case, these are loans that are being arranged by the Federal Government and so, there is nothing Christianity or Islamic that is indicated on that loan.
“So, I want us to disregard that and look at it as another hate speech from our detractors. We’re still very committed to the oneness of the country that is rooted in peace, equity, justice and fairness”
Addressing newsmen recently in Enugu at the end of the South-East Governors meeting, the chairman of the forum also said that they had adopted the Asa Power Plant in Abia State as a model for regional integration and would work assiduously to ensure the success of the project.
He disclosed that the governors indicated interest to benefit from the Asa gas project and announced that a committee had been constituted to enable them build five mega industrial clusters in all the South-Eastern states.
“We have also taken notice of a number of gas clusters in Southeast and have directed the economic team and the Secretariat to get the people that are in charge of the blocks so that we can discuss with them,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Igbo governors have inaugurated the secretariat staff of the Southeast Governors’ Forum with Professor Simon Otuanya from Enugu State as Director General.
Others were the Director of Finance and Administration, Mr Orlando Nweze from Ebonyi State and the Director Media and Communication, Mr Michael Udah from Anambra State including the Director, Project Initiation, and Execution, Chibuike Amaechi from Abia State while the Deputy Director General of Imo State.
Inaugurating the staff at Government House, Enugu, Umahi charged them to show commitment in the performance of their duties as they were appointed to join hands with the governors to tackle the challenges facing the Igbo nation.
