Opinion

Who are benefitting from insecurity in South East?, By Ikeddy ISIGUZO

ONLY nine months ago, the Zone 13 headquarters of the Nigeria was inaugurated with the emphatic pomp that businessman Prince Arthur Eze throws around his renowned celebrations of emptiness. It was a top trophy for him.

Known for stretching situation, it would have been out of place if Prince Eze did not draw the name of the President into an ordinary police post which was important because it was located in Eze’s native Ukpo.

While others of his standing are attracting meaningful projects to their areas, Eze’s interest in the police was not strange. His accusers allege it was a move to intimidate opponents in various disputes including lands in Abba and Abagana.

The pretences about a modern police facility that would tackle insecurity were smoked on Monday just two weeks after a more devastating attack on the Imo State Police Command headquarters Owerri.

Where was the sophistication of the Ukpo facility that was praised at its inauguration? The police seem to consider it an achievement that only a couple of vehicles were burnt in the attack. It is a quiet admission that it could have been worse.

Insecurity has become the top reason for the increased and sustained militarisation of the South East. The security agencies could be overwhelmed in protecting their own facilities but have never flagged in their arrests of young people in the South East, accusing them of being members of IPOB. Even with the isolated incidents the South East remains the most peaceful zone.

Chief Alex Ogbonnia, National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in a statement asked the army in Owerri to stop arrests of young people in Oguta, Ohaji, and other parts of South East without any evidence of wrong doing.

The same security agencies that ignore complaints about the menace of herdsmen have established expertise in indiscriminate arrests. Why are they unable to defend their facilities?

A clear picture is emerging of security occupation of the South East being a major agenda rather than securing it. Who are the beneficiaries?

Insecurity in the South East – and elsewhere – would be over when its beneficiaries are prosecuted and punished.

Finally…

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari reels out achievements of Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim, also known as Sheikh Pantami, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, to counter Pantami’s support for a terrorist group. The national outrage means nothing to the President. Has anything that afflicted Nigerians bothered Buhari? We have all been warned to stay off Pantami as proof that nobody is sponsoring us to interrogate Pantami keeping his high-ranking ministerial position. Pantami’s education should advise him to save us the half-baked defences that show him as not having respect for Nigerians or even himself.

OUR new economy is on the streets – the youth engaged for the moment in hawking fuel when filling stations claim they have no supplies. Nobody should suggest the hawkers have their own refineries. Their price for 10 litres on Tuesday morning opposite one of the NNPC stations on the Kubwa Expressway was N6, 000.  We should be comforted with government’s assurances that there is no scarcity and that the price of fuel has not changed.

CHAD’s President Idriss Déby reportedly died in battle against rebels. At least he was active enough to generate doubts the circuit of his death. Déby was in power for 30 years, only death detached him from a longer stay. He was only a figure in the disruptions of governance in Chad that commenced with Felix Malloum who lived in Kano for years on exile from 1978. He died in France in 2009, aged 76. The influx of refugees from Chad portends more security challenges for Nigeria.

Isiguzo is a major commentator on minor issues

 

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