S/East Stakeholders Decry Worsening Insecurity, Urge Government Action
By Dominion okey
Stakeholders in southeast have decried the worsening insecurity in the region, urging the government to take decisive action to restore peace and stability.
The call was made on Thursday, during a Peace and Stability Summit organized by the Orlu Progressive Initiative in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital.
Speaking at the summit, the Executive Director of Orlu Progressive Initiative, Ikechukwu Nwabueze, described the insecurity situation as long overdue for resolution.
He warned that the continued violence, sit-at-home orders, and loss of lives are eroding the Southeast’s economic and social potential.
Nwabueze acknowledged the grievances fueling the agitation but insisted that no cause justifies the killing of innocent people. He urged those involved in violent activities to reconsider their actions and embrace peaceful means of advocacy.
Also speaking, Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Ebonyi State, Comr. Nasiru Ernest Nweze, stated that keeping Nnamdi Kanu in detention has not helped the security situation in the region. He emphasized that while many Southeast youths may not agree with Kanu’s methods, dialogue remains the best solution.
Hon. Peter Ogadima Nwankwo, Special Assistant to the immediate past Chairman of the APC in Imo State, highlighted agriculture as a vital tool for addressing insecurity in the Southeast. He argued that investing in mechanized farming would create employment opportunities for youths, reducing their vulnerability to crime and violence.
Douglas Ochisi, Chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), stressed the role of youth in peacebuilding, stating that without peace, there can be no meaningful development. He urged young people to embrace positive change and contribute to stabilizing the Southeast.
Other stakeholders, including former IPAC Chairman Dr. Jennifer Adibe and the Special Assistant on Media to the Deputy Chief Whip, Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi, Valentine Chukwubuzor, also spoke at the summit, adding their voices to the call for urgent intervention.