A former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim has said the increasing level of insecurity in the Southeast zone may be due to the inability of the Igbo leaders to make a strong statement and define their position in the Biafran agitation.
Anyim urged Igbo leaders to engage the agitators in a more robust and profitable discussion with a view to proffering lasting solutions to the situation.
The former Senate President was the chairman of the Southeast Economic and Security Summit held yesterday in Owerri, the Imo State capital.
He regretted that the Igbo race has turned to a war zone where the safety of the people is no longer guaranteed.
He recalled that the enforcement of the Monday sit-at-home across the five Southeast states has not only caused the region huge revenue waste but led to loss of lives and property in the zone.
“Yet, the circumstances which led to the Nigerian civil war in 1967, appeared not to be same with the current agitation by these separatist groups. This is why the leaders of the Southeast should look inward by bringing the agitators closer to actually understand their yearnings.
“The leaders should come out openly and make a strong statement in order to douse the tension rather than turning deaf ears to the activities of the agitators.
“I fear that sooner than later, Southeast may lose political relevance and may no longer be favourable for any electoral exercise due to insecurity.”
This is the time to put an end to this menace and return the land to its peaceful and harmonious state. Let us utilize this opportunity by stating our position clearly without politicizing same. I believe the situation will be returned to normalcy,” he said.
We’ve got the edge. Get real-time reports, breaking scoops, and exclusive angles delivered straight to your phone. Don’t settle for stale news. Join LEADERSHIP NEWS on WhatsApp for 24/7 updates →
Join Our WhatsApp Channel
