By Tony Edike
ENUGU – SOUTH East Political Leaders rose from a closed door meeting in Enugu Sunday with a call for the review of the revenue sharing formula to enable the states meet their financial obligations including the payment of the new N18,000 minimum wage.

The five state governors however restated their commitment to implement the new minimum wage as prescribed by law but were silent on when to commence the payment to workers in their respective states.

Present at the meeting held at the Lion Building Government House, Enugu were the five governors of the South East zone, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha and the President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Ambassador Ralph Uwechue.

From left, Gov. Theodore Orji of Abia, Gov. Martin Elechi of Ebonyi, Secretary to Government of the Federation, Sen. Pius Anyim, Gov. Peter Obi of Anambra, Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo, Gov. Sullivan Chime of Enugu, Deputy Speaker Federal House of Representatives, Mr. Emeka Ihedioha during South-East Governors and Political Leaders Forum in Enugu on Sunday.Photo by Hill Ezeugwu.

In a nine-point communiqué presented by the Chairman of the South East Governors’ Forum and Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi at the end of the meeting, the South East political leaders also thanked President Goodluck Jonathan for the appointment of Senator Anyim as the Secretary to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

They congratulated Senator Ike Ekweremadu and Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha who were elected the Deputy Senate President and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives respectively and pledged their continued support to President Jonathan and the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The political leaders resolved to work together irrespective of their political differences for the interest of the zone in particular and Nigeria in general, adding that regular meetings would be held to review issues affecting the South East region and the nation with a view to taking a common stand.

The meeting also revisited the issue of the abandoned Ziks Centre project in Enugu which was part of the projects lined up for the immortalization of the first Nigerian President and Owelle of Onitsha, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe initiated several years ago but never took off even though a fund raising activity was
held under the chairmanship of Senator Anyim.

According to the communiqué, “the various states of the zone will work together to complete the Zik’s Centre in Enugu.”

The South East leaders, however, wished ailing Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu,
whom they described as the political father of the zone, quick recovery from his ailment which is currently being treated at a London hospital.