By ANAYO OKOLI

UMUAHIA—ABIA State Governor, Chief  Theodore Orji yesterday expressed surprise at the decision of Northern governor to back out of the agitation for creation of state police, insisting that the decision to support state police was collectively taken by the Governor’s Forum.

Orji who was out of the country on vacation when Northern Governors backed out of the earlier decision of the Forum, maintained that the decision for state police was for the interest of the country not for political reasons.

According to him, the decision was reached collectively after a brainstorming sessions at the Governors’ Forum taking into consideration the peculiarities confronting the nation, pointing out that the merits and demerits were fully considered and discussed collectively by the governors.

Speaking to journalists on arrival at Umuahia the United States of America, Governor Orji, said: “As far as the Governors’ Forum is concerned and I am a member of that Forum who was there when the decision was taken, that is where I stand. We took a collective decision at the Governors Forum that all the governors would support the issue of State Police.

But while I was out, I heard different stories from our colleagues in the North who went and organised their own meeting and said that they don’t want state Police.  But as far as the Governors Forum is concerned and I was there when this decision was taken, that is where I stand. If there is anything on the contrary, the South East Governors have not met on the issue of State Police. The Governors’ Forum took a decision. It was general.

“We have not gone to the Governors’ Forum to reverse it. That is our own opinion. But if eventually the party, as an organ, comes out with a decision, as a loyal party man, I will be bound to abide by that decision.”