Hon. Ichita Calls For Presidential Intervention To Address Insecurity In South East

Hon. Obinna Ichita, the Country Director of the German Initiative for Knowledge Transfer eV and former Abia State lawmaker, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene in the ongoing security crisis in Nigeria’s South East region.

Highlighting a series of discussions with Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Hon. Ichita stressed the urgency of resolving the issues fueling insecurity in the region.

Speaking on his recent engagements with Mazi Kanu at the Department of State Services (DSS) Headquarters in Abuja, Hon. Ichita noted that the separatist leader’s release could significantly restore peace in the South East.

READ ALSO: IPOB Guarantees Ndigbo A Peaceful Christmas, Pledges To Tackle Insecurity

“In the past two weeks, I have held several meetings with Mazi Nnamdi Kanu to discuss the restoration of peace and security in the South East. Any development effort that ignores the primacy of security cannot be considered robust,” Ichita remarked.

Referencing his earlier conversations with Mazi Kanu in November 2021 and advice to the then-Buhari-led administration, Ichita emphasized that dialogue and negotiation remain the most effective tools for conflict resolution.

“Even full-blown wars are settled through negotiations. Modern democracies rarely resort to war, as negotiations are central to conflict resolution,” he argued, adding that even nations like Israel engage in dialogue despite prolonged conflicts.

Ichita highlighted the failure of South East political leaders to approach President Tinubu for intervention as a critical shortfall. He questioned their inaction amid worsening insecurity that has led to frequent incidents of kidnapping and attacks on security operatives.

“Why are South East leaders so quiet while their home is burning? What or who is stopping them from appealing to Mr. President for a peaceful resolution of this crisis? Can any governor in the region claim to have effectively performed their duties as Chief Security Officer of their state?”

Ichita painted a grim picture of the region, where insecurity has disrupted economic activities, hindered travel plans, and endangered lives. He argued that the prolonged detention of Mazi Kanu has exacerbated tensions, making it difficult to distinguish between agitators and criminal elements.

He appealed to President Tinubu to take decisive action by initiating a process for Kanu’s release and employing alternative dispute resolution mechanisms to address the underlying social and political issues.

“The effects of Mazi Kanu’s release by President Tinubu can be analyzed from various perspectives, including security, commerce, transportation, politics, and diplomacy. Such a gesture would not only portray the President as a unifier but also showcase Nigeria as an example of Africans solving their problems without external directives,” Ichita stated.

Drawing a parallel with Rwanda’s transformation after the 1994 genocide, Ichita expressed optimism that Nigeria could achieve peace and development through dialogue and collective effort.

“If Rwandans can rebuild their nation, Nigerians can do it too. It is smarter to talk about the cause of problems rather than fight about them.”

Hon. Ichita’s call for immediate action highlights the need for collaborative efforts among political leaders, security operatives, and the Federal Government to restore peace and stability in the South East.