Insecurity: Restore Trust, Confidence And Calm in S/East, CAN Appeals to Regional Leaders

BY ALO DAVID, ABAKALIKI ME L Christian Association of Nigeria,CAN, South East zone on weekend appealed to leaders from the zone to interface with the aggrieved youths as to restore trust and calm the bedeviled security challenges.

According to the release signed and made available to us, the religious leaders felt worried with the unabated killings going on in the region on what is seen to be ochestrated by high level of injustice and failed leadership. The religious leaders described the state of insecurity in the region as worrisome and call for grave concern for all and sundry. They noted that the region which was once known by it's entrepreneurial and creativity is now crippled by violence and insecurity, and pointed out that continous giving of analysis without placing priority to the root cause of the security situation which is failed leadership, restoration of injustice and fairness since return of democracy in the country. Consequently, the failed government at all levels that has regenerated by political leaders and created gap between the leads resulted to ethnic and separatists agitation who continued to win loyalty from frustrated citizens. Hence,resulted to the formation of Indigenous People of Biafra in South East region, though, now proscribed even as their activities was unable to curtain and that has resulted to wanton killings and waste of lives in different parts of the zone. However, the religious leaders called on federal government to lift proscription to the group to give room for dialogue on way forward for a better society, even as, they pleaded leaders of South East geopolitical zone to genuinely see themselves as representatives of the people, thereby, invest more resources in security development of the region and job creation. The full text of the release reads: "Restore Trust, Confidence and Calm in South East Nigeria: A Passionate Plea by the Christian Religious Leaders of South East Nigeria" " 1. The tragic plight of our youth, our families and individuals in the entire South East Region is now a cause for grave concern for us all in our local communities and within our various Church bodies. The level of violence and insecurity in our land is no longer tolerable. A land where people have always been known for their industry, entrepreneurship and creativity is now living in crippling fear. Our land is soaked with blood and a gloomy cloud hangs in the air. This cannot be allowed to go on. 2. Whereas some may be content with analysing only the immediate causes of this situation, we would prefer to point out that at the root of all this is the failure of governance at various levels. With the return to constitutional democracy in 1999, our people had looked forward to a national sense of belonging and the restoration of equity and fairness in dealing with all segments of Nigeria. This, unfortunately, has not happened. 3. The failure in this regard opened the way for ethnic and sectionalist agitations for justice and fairness. With the increasing divide between the ruling class and the people, and the vacuum created by an alienating leadership at the Federal, Regional and State levels, separatist bodies emerged and soon began to win the loyalty of frustrated citizens. 4. In the South East of Nigeria, one of such groups, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), gained prominence some years ago. Although it was proscribed by the Federal Government in 2017, the group has continued its agitation for an independent State of Biafra, often leading to heavy military responses and the loss of lives of many youths. The group is also accused of various killings, many of which it denies. This situation has created a very dangerous environment, which is being exploited by many criminal elements who have unleashed a reign of terror on the helpless citizens of the region. 5. As religious leaders of this badly battered region, we appeal to all those responsible for the killings to please stop, before the entire South East descends into anarchy, which will invariably affect the other parts of the country. We believe that there are still other options besides violence, over-militarization of the area, and senseless killings. 6. We passionately call on the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency, address the underlying reason for the agitations, namely, the desire for equity, fairness and good governance in Nigeria, in order to eliminate, or at least minimize, the separatist agitations, not only in the South East, but everywhere else in Nigeria. 7. We equally appeal to the political leaders of the South East to see themselves as representatives of the people and to invest all available resources in the security, development of the region, and creation of jobs. It ought to be remembered that all these agitations are cries for help by people many of whom have invested time, energies and resources in education and learning a trade, yet they cannot find gainful employment. Our political leaders must do something to reduce the huge gulf between their personal welfare and that of the people at large. In a special way, we urge that, since the youth are our strength and hope as a nation in our various regions and states, extra attention, care and sacrifice need to be expended, in order to win back their confidence and trust in Government. They ought to be given the opportunity to participate constructively and productively in the delicate task of nation building. 8. As spiritual fathers, we say to you our aggrieved youths: We hear your cry. We understand your anxiety about your present and your future. Therefore, we recommit ourselves to continue doing all within our powers in order to address your concerns, in collaboration with our elected representatives, the private sector and all the other segments of our society. 9. We would also like to engage the members of the Indigenous People of Biafra and other separatist groups, to ask them to eschew all violent activities. But we cannot reasonably do this as long as any of them is proscribed as a terrorist group. We therefore call on the Federal Government to consider granting amnesty to IPOB and other separatist groups. We believe that the de-criminalization and de-proscription of these groups would lead them to embrace the democratic and non-violent means of negotiation, thus opening the path of dialogue on the future of Nigeria. This will win the hearts of all and lead to a better rapport between the political leaders and the people in the future. A militarist and high-handed approach may win the peace of the mortuary and graveyard, but it cannot win the hearts and minds of the people. 10. We therefore urge all, in the name of God, to join hands and work hard to restore trust, confidence and calm in South East Nigeria. Growth and development in our region cannot be achieved through intimidation, mass murder and destruction. All those who are still preventing people from going about their legitimate businesses by enforcing a sit-at-home order, for which no group now claims responsibility, are therefore called upon desist from doing so. 11. In the same vein, we enjoin all our sons and daughters, especially those in the diaspora, to make responsible use of the social media. This very powerful instrument that modern technology has placed in our hands should be used to build up, not to destroy; to dispel ignorance and spread love, not to spread falsehood, create fear and panic. We equally ask the security agencies to be professional in their efforts to ensure the maintenance of law and order in the region. 12. We continue to pray and call on all Christians as well as all people of good will to join us in praying for peace that is based on justice, fairness, equity and good governance in Nigeria. Most Rev. Dr. Anthony J. V. Obinna Most Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Chukwuma, OON Catholic Archbishop of Owerri Anglican Archbishop of Enugu Most Rev. Dr. Chibuzo R. Opoko Most Rev. Dr. Valerian M. Okeke Methodist Archbishop of Umuahia Catholic Archbishop of Onitsha Most Rev. Dr. Uma A. Onwunta Bishop Obi Onubogu Past Principal Clerk Presbyterian Church Nigeria Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria Rev. Dr. Abraham Nwali Chaiman, CAN, South East Zone.