By Abah Joshua
The pan Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has expressed disappointment over the inaction and lackadaisical attitude of Southeast governors towards the security of the region.
A press statement Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, Secretary General Ohanaeze Ndigbo decried the poor approach of Southeast governors on engaging President Bola Tinubu on the release of Nnamdi Kanu.
Mazi Okechukwu, who also condemned the silence of the Southeast governors on the proposed lockdown by Ekpa Simon in Southeast, called on the people of the region to resist any intimidation from criminal elements.
The statement reads: “The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, expresses profound disappointment in the recent inaction of Southeast Governors regarding the escalating security crisis in our region. Their failure to engage effectively with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), stands as a glaring oversight amid the disarray that has gripped the Southeast.
“The lackadaisical approach exhibited by these governing figures has inadvertently created a vacuum, allowing insignificant actors like Simon Ekpa—currently operating from Finland—to manipulate public sentiment and threaten economic activities with his dubious declarations of lockdown. Such antics serve only to further mock and ridicule a region steeped in rich history and remarkable leaders, including the illustrious Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Dr. Michael Okpara, Dr Francis Akanu-Ibiam, Dr Jaja Wachuku, Dr Alex Ekwueme, Dimm Odumegwu Chukwuemeka Ojukwu, Chief C C Onoh, and Chief Sam Mbakwe.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo asserts that it is incumbent upon the Southeast Governors to unequivocally assert their authority as the chief security officers of the region. We call upon them to utilise innovative, homegrown mechanisms to tackle these unprecedented challenges rather than perpetuate reliance on ineffective conventional methods. It is imperative that these leaders leverage their relationships, notably with critical figures like the Attorney General of the Federation, to pursue a constructive dialogue for Kanu’s release.
“Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, Secretary-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, condemns the current state of apathy, noting that the prolonged inaction following their commitments to engage with President Tinubu has emboldened non-state actors and their nefarious agendas. The people of the Southeast continue to bear the brunt of this instability, and we firmly hold the governors accountable for their constitutional duty to safeguard the lives and properties of Ndigbo.
“We urge all Ndigbo to disregard the irrelevant and inconsequential lockdown imposed by Simon Ekpa and to resist any intimidation from criminal elements wishing to disrupt the region’s peace. As schools prepare to reopen amid ongoing economic challenges, it is essential that we remain resolute against external threats to our stability.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo reiterates its commitment to advocating for genuine solutions to our security crisis, urging Southeast Governors to step up as leaders. The time for action is now; we implore our leaders to reclaim control of the Southeast and protect our people from the trepidations that loom”, he advised.