The Chairman of the Southeast Governors Forum and Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma and his three counterparts, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State, Peter Mbah of Enugu State and Ogbonna Nwifuru of Ebonyi State were all absent during the Southeast security summit in Umuahia, Abia State capital.
While Uzodimma, Soludo and Mbah were represented by their deputies Lady Chinyere Ekomaru, Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim, Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai, Nwifuru was however, represented by the Speaker of Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Moses Odunwa.
Also, the Special Guest of Honour, Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, was equally absent as he was represented by the Senate Committee Chairman on Army, Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’Adua.
DrumAfricanews gathered that the Southeast Regional Security Summit 2026 was not planned or organised by Abia State government, neither was the Southeast Governors Forum involved in the planning and execution.
As gathered, it was planned organized by the Federal Ministry of Defense in collaboration with the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (Southeast), Hon. Barr. Chioma Nweze, a close political ally of Senator Dave Umahi, Minister for Works, who is incidentally a distance cousin of Governor Otti.
Feelers available to DrumAfricanews has it that the Southeast governors had political and administrative schedules that actually clashed with the date of the security summit, while some yet unconfirmed information points towards improper planning and from the organizers who may have not considered the schedule of others.
There are still some rumours pointing towards a rift and crack in the relationship of political leaders from the region, which was somehow dismissed by the presence of the Deputy Governors and the Ebonyi speaker, who got the approvals of their boses to be there.
Speaking at the summit, Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, reaffirmed his administration’s unflinching commitment to achieving adequate security in the South East region.
The Governor noted that security is the foundation of prosperity and the pillar upon which all progress rests. He described the summit as timely and its theme, “Collaborative Approaches to Strengthening Security and Regional Stability,” as very apt.
Otti said the summit was coming at the right time, considering the electioneering season, and advised that efforts should be directed towards curtailing political violence and creating the right atmosphere for the exchange of democratic ideas. He stressed that no one should be harmed for their political choices.
Otti thanked the organisers for hosting the programme in Abia, stressing that the theme of this summit is brilliant for the reason that it speaks to the next frontier of efforts at consolidating the gains made recently with respect to intelligence sharing, resource mobilisation, and a common commitment to the prosperity of the region.
The Special Guest of Honour, Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, who was represented by the Senate Committee Chairman on Army, Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’Adua, said that the Senate remains committed to providing the legislative support needed to modernise security institutions.
He added that the theme of the summit reminds everyone of an enduring truth: that no nation has ever secured itself through isolated efforts.
According to him, “what is at stake today is not merely the security of the South East, but the confidence of our people, the unity of our Republic, and the promise of a safer Nigeria for every citizen.
“Security succeeds where partnership flourishes. This gathering is not only about protecting a region, it is about strengthening the very fabric of our union. The Southeast has always occupied a central place in our national story, and some of its greatest sons have been among the strongest advocates of national unity,” Senator Akpabio stated.
In their goodwill messages, the Governors of Imo, Anambra, Enugu and Ebonyi States commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for the remarkable progress recorded in strengthening security across the country and for his unwavering commitment to sustaining the gains achieved.
The absentee governors also expressed appreciation to Governor Alex Otti for hosting the South East Regional Security Summit, and acknowledged the efforts of the service chiefs, the Federal Ministry of Defence, and the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (Southeast), for making the summit a reality, and assured of their commitment to security in the Southeast.
The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, called for stronger regional collaboration, intelligence sharing, and constitutional reforms to tackle the security challenges confronting the South East. He insisted that lasting peace requires both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches.
Hon. Kalu extolled Governor Alex Otti for his efforts in achieving security in Abia State, saying that under Governor Otti’s leadership, Abia is safe, secure and peaceful.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to restoring lasting peace and security in the Southeast through a comprehensive strategy that combines military operations, economic development, infrastructure expansion, media literacy, and community engagement.
In his opening remarks, the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa, Rtd., described the summit as the beginning of a new chapter in promoting peace, security and sustainable development in the region. He stressed that its theme underscores the need for collective action.
He noted that while the Southeast remains a hub of enterprise, innovation and commerce, persistent challenges such as kidnapping and violent criminality should not be allowed to take over the region.
In his keynote address, former Chief of Army Staff, General Azubuike Ihejirika, Rtd., stressed the need for adequate security in the South East. He noted that for collaboration to work and produce meaningful results, care must be taken to ensure culprits of criminal activities are not spared, while an entire community where crime is committed should not be treated as culprits. He said doing that would make communities unable to share intelligence with security agencies.
