By Ugbor Samuel, Abakaliki
Apex socio-political youth group in Igbo land, the Coalition of Southeast Youth Leaders, on Wednesday, called for dialogue and cooperation to arrest the country’s spate of security crises.
The Igbo youths made the call in a statement signed by its President-General, Goodluck Egwu Ibem and Secretary General, Kanice Igwe.
According to the group, almost all the states in Nigeria were currently faced with one form of security challenge or the other
They said, “From terrorism to banditry and to kidnapping, no single state within Nigeria is without any form of criminality or insecurity.”
The group further noted that provision of adequate security is a collective task which government alone cannot handle.
“The issue of security is undoubtedly the primary duty and responsibility of any government to its citizens and no progress significant or otherwise can be recorded without guarantee of security. It behooves the needful is done since it follows that security is a collective task.
“The current security state of Nigeria is not a task one person, even the military top brass alone can handle. Intelligence sharing, technical and logistical support, increased funding and financial support will, no doubt, go along away in remedying Nigeria’s predicament but will not be enough to address her security woes.
The Igbo youth leaders observed that the kind of violence presently confronting the country is largely from non-state actors and internecine warfare, saying, “While funding and logistics are vital and still part of the main, the place of experience cannot be gainsaid. It is here that Senator Theodore Ahamefula Orji comes into the Nigerian security picture so well.
“Experience is vital in any human affairs and much so in the area of security. Today in the United States, Britain and other developed democracies, military strategy has been sought from the hands of veterans, active and retired politicians and strategic scholars in military and war discipline including security experts to navigate through the woods of insecurity. Nigeria should not be any different.
“Variously, angry calls have-in the past and present times-been made by political oppositions; by the media (through releases, feature and opinion articles); by civil society and advocacy groups all demanding the immediate relief of various service chiefs.
“To this end, the president (commander in chief of armed forces) has upbraided his service chiefs calling their best not “good enough” but what largely remains undone in tackling the problem is consultation, especially with men of experience outside those with military training and background”.
“As governor of Abia state, Senator Theodore Ahamefula Orji was faced with challenges of insecurity ranging from kidnapping to even arm robbery. Theodore Orji at that time was able to deploy both local and national intelligence infrastructure to curb the ugly situation.
“School children, owners of businesses and captains of industries were preyed upon by a cliquish group led by one Osisikankwu, a notorious kidnap kingpin.”
Picture: Colaition of South East Youth leaders
