Obiano Holds Closed Door Meeting with Delegation from Abuja Over Ekwulobia Boko Haram Saga

The controversies generated by the curious transfer of 47 Boko Haram suspects to Ekwulobia Prisons in Anambra State may soon go away following a 2-hour closed door meeting Wednesday between the governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano and a 7-man delegation from the National Security Adviser at the Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia.

(L-R) Rt. Rev Dr. Alexander Ibezim, the Anglican Bishop of

 Awka, HRM Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, the Obi of Onitsha, Chief Willie

 Obiano, Governor of Anambra State, Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor, the

 catholic Bishop of Awka and Chief Okwudili Ezenwankwo, President

 General AMATAS addressing the press at the Governor's Lodge Awka,

 after a closed door meeting with a delegation from the Presidency on

 the controversial transfer of Boko Haram inmates to

 Ekwulobia

The meeting which attracted highly respected senior citizens of the state took place on the instance of the Presidency following a passionate appeal by Governor Obiano to the Presidency, endless protests and wide agitations by traders, the South East Governors’ Forum, Ohaneze Ndigbo, Aka Ikenga, members of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Anambra State Council of Traditional Rulers, Association of Town Unions, civil society groups and numerous social cultural associations across the region against the transfer of the dreaded inmates from Chad to Ekwulobia. 

Addressing the press after the meeting, Governor Obiano assured Ndi Anambra that the deliberations between his team and the team from the Presidency was highly successful and expressed optimism that the matter would be resolved very soon.

Flanked by the Obi of Onitsha, HRM, Igwe Nnemeka Achebe, the Igwe of Umuoji, HRH Cyril Enweze, the Catholic Bishop of Awka, Most Rev. Paulinus Okafor, the Anglican Bishop of Awka, Rt. Rev. Dr. Alexander Ibezim, the Anambra State Chairman of CAN, Apostle Theo Okpala, Akudolu Gozie, Coordinator South East Traders Association, Okwudili Ezenwankwo, President General AMATAS, Dr. Jude Okolo, National President ASATU and Barr. Ephraim Ilozumba, National Legal Adviser ASATU, Governor Obiano explained that the Presidency was fully aware of the strong feelings of Ndi Anambra against the presence of the high risk prisoners and had given his assurance that the dreaded inmates would soon be moved out of the state.

He called on Ndi Anambra to maintain the peace and desist from anything that might lead to a disruption of the harmonious atmosphere that has enveloped the state in the past one year, further emphasizing that the matter would soon be over.

Since news of the transfer of the deadly prisoners to Ekwulobia, a busting commercial town in Aguata Local Government Area, filtered to town, Governor Obiano has been relentless in his efforts to engage all the relevant authorities on the matter in Abuja while re-assuring Ndi Anambra to desist from anything that might lead to a breach of the peace.