INSENSITIVITY OF NIGERIA SOUTH EAST GOVERNORS
The Nigeria Federal Government led by President Muhammad Buhari, who came into power in May 2015, has consistently displayed utter disregard to the plight and insecurity of the Christian dominated South East region of Nigeria. It is glaring that South East is the only region in Nigeria composed of five states while others have a minimum of six and some seven states thus showing unequal treatment by the Nigerian government.
The most appalling situation is the unequaled insensitivity and conspicuous neglect of the people of South East by their Governors with respect to important issues such as security, infrastructure and manpower development.
In a blatant display of hatred to the people of the region, the Nigerian Army of the Buhari-led administration conducted Operation Python Dance between 28 November to 27 December, 2016. This resulted to the death of hundreds of citizens from the region with no single statement of regret or apology from the Federal Government. Later, Operation Python Dance II was conducted again in the region between 15 September to 14 October, 2017. This recorded another series of deaths while the Governors of the region kept mute. What a disgrace!
Furthermore, the rampage of the region by Fulani herdsmen has taken another drastic toll on the lives of the people as many have been murdered in cold blood in their farms while many have been kidnapped, raped and even executed by the Fulani militia but the Governors continue to look helpless.
In a drive to curtail the unimaginable rising level of insecurity in Nigeria, the six Governors of the South West region took the bull by the horn and set up Amotekun Security Outfit to secure their people. In a swift display of an insensitive Federal Government, the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, who is from Northern Nigeria immediately declared the outfit illegal while his region has Hisbah security outfit functioning effectively.
The South West Governors showed absolute resilience by resisting the Federal Government, they followed through and secured approval to run the outfit in the region while their South East counterparts who are even in dire need of such outfit are still in oblivion and unending slumber. What a disgrace of a set of Governors!
In a show of shame, while the people of Imo State were in total shock of one of the worst verdicts of Nigeria's Supreme Court in recent time, as duly elected Governor Emeka Ihedioha of PDP was removed from office and replaced with Hope Uzodinma of APC (ruling party) who came distant 4th position in the election, Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, was seen few days later in the team travelling with President Muhammadu Buhari.
It is worthy of note that efforts by different zones of Nigeria in providing regional security for their people is a clear indication of a failed state with no leadership and direction. If the Governors of the South East region are still hopeful in the Federal Government for security of their people, they should be most amazed. Series of events have proven that the Buhari-led administration has no political will to protect the people of the South East. The South West and Northern Nigeria have now established Amotekun and Hisbah security outfits respectively to protect their
people. The resounding question begging for answer is, "what is the strategy of the South East Governors to provide security for their people?" The people of the South East must now unite and call their Governors to order. It is time for the Governors of South East to rise up and defend their people as posterity will judge them if they fail to act now.
