TheCable

Rochas Okorocha, governor of Imo state, and Willie Obiano, his Anambra counterpart, have been advised to “pick up farming tools” instead of engaging in quarrel.

The World Igbo Summit Group (WISG), a think tank of south-east professionals and technocrats, gave the counsel, and appealed to both men to sheathe their swords and work for the progress of the region.

Okorocha, chairman of the governors’ forum of the All Progressives Congress (APC), had earlier told south-east politicians that their future can only be guaranteed in the ruling party.

He also made some controversial remarks of late, forcing Obiano to hit back at him.

But the group believes their action is unwarranted and not in sync with the demands of their high offices.

It advised both men to be more concerned about tackling the challenges confronting the south-east.

“The World Igbo Summit Group has decried the verbal altercation between Governors Rochas Okorocha of Imo State and Willie Obiano of Anambra state, saying the situation in the south-east calls for sobriety and strategic thinking, rather than internal warfare,” the group said in a statement signed by Ifedi Okwenna.

“The challenges before the Igbo nation are multifarious and demand collective action.

“Our people are embattled by policies from the centre, by executive prejudice and by incoherence in strategic direction regarding our status in the polity.

“This is the time for governors to act as one. They should be interfacing with our people and plan our journey of a thousand miles with the right first steps. We ask that they sheathe their swords immediately. We have work to do.”