Peter Obi, the former Labour Party presidential candidate has described the insecurity in the South East region as ‘criminal activity’.
He emphasized that while the activities were being attributed to the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), the proscribed group has consistently denied any involvement in these criminal acts.
According to him, what is going on in the South-East therefore is essentially a criminal activity.
“Also disturbing is the continued disruption of business and social activities in the South East region over the Sit-at-Home directive purported to be coming from the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, when the body has publicly denied issuing such directive.
“What is going on in the South East therefore is essentially a criminal activity that must be nipped in the bud, with all hands being on deck, security agencies, and the people alike,” Obi said in a series of tweets on his Twitter handle on Thursday.
While expressing appreciation for the efforts of the governors in the region, he emphasized the need for the leaders of the states to adopt a more strategic and intelligence-driven approach.
He said, “The South East Governors are to be commended for their renewed efforts at curbing this menace but there is a need to be more strategic and intelligence-driven in our approach to reducing the suffering of innocent people.
“Security agencies should take necessary and quick steps to arrest the ugly incidents because the country cannot just be spilling the blood of innocent citizens. We as a people through our various governments should up our value for human lives in the way and manner we respond to issues that touch lives. The implications of an insecure environment for development are far-reaching because no investor will consider going to an area where their resources will not be safe and secured.
“Therefore, I will like to urge critical stakeholders in these areas, traditional, Christian and Muslim leaders to continue pushing for peace among their people in the way and manner they conduct themselves.
“The various governments at all levels should also take deliberate steps to address the issue of poverty and youth unemployment because the provision of stomach infrastructure is the surer way to tackle insecurity.
“Also, urgent steps should be taken consciously and intentionally to ameliorate the hardship of the people.”
