EconomyOpinionPoliticsOPINION: What Igbo Political Leaders Must Do Now

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For almost two months, the Southeast geo-political zone, which used to be the safest zone in Nigeria, was suddenly engulfed by a distressing security situation that speedily degenerated. Worst is the guerrilla style with which the attacks were coordinated. What started as an attack on security formations around the zone by “unknown gunmen” quickly gained momentum and escalated with more police stations attacked, destroyed, officers killed, and their weapons taken. Thus creating a frightening circle of violence to the chagrin and extreme dread of the people of the zone, who vacate road and all public places, as well their businesses before 7pm. The attackers moved it a bit further by extending their attack to INEC offices in the zone, which saw the damage of INEC offices in some states in the Southeast.

Significantly, those really dark days reveal the extent of the disconnection between the people and the leadership of the zone. The obvious discontent was alarming, but then only speaks to the failure of political leadership in the zone. The situation has even taken an ironic coloration with the masses, not understanding the depth of the danger posed by that development, were seen hailing the gunmen. In perspective, people just do not want the government anymore. This goes beyond the clamor for Biafra and the demand for a referendum. The people have nothing to show for the leadership they have in the Southeast. And so it happens that some armed men have taken their grudge to face the government squarely, we must be honest to admit that the cheer given to the gunmen in the streets and on social media is a direct indication of the governments’ total failure and apparent rejection from those they purport to govern.

As a matter of fact, the people simply cannot feel the existence of government and the government doesn’t care, instead, it goes on as if it doesn’t matter. But it’s the people that give legitimacy to the government. And, if  Southeast governments continue along with the path of nonchalance and inaction, the apparent loss of legitimacy may yet plunge the zone into unending violence and bloodbath. But if the governments become more responsive, more humane, concern themselves with solving the challenges facing the governed — like high youth unemployment, education, and curbing the spates of crime and violence, they would still be a chance that they would earn the trust of the people and hence legitimacy.

In the past few weeks, normalcy seems to be returning to the zone, and for two reasons; the people of the zone seeing just exactly where the violence is headed took caution, spoke up against the trend, and campaigned against armed violence and robbery in various villages. Young men took it upon themselves to go after criminals and once caught, jungle justice is administered. This is still ongoing in several communities in the Southeast. Then, also the activities of security forces in parts of the region only gave an insight into what can possibly happen to the people in the event of a full scale armed struggle. That was an eye-opener to which the people adjusted accordingly. In contrast, what we have in the North is a situation where bandits and armed criminals are treated with kids-gloves, with a pat on the back. Sheik Gumi has appointed himself the spokesman of bandits and kidnappers in the north, without shame, even appearing on national television to put up a defense for those criminals and while at the time trying to demonize IPOB. Such an irony! But this is telling to the extent that it reveals the support enjoyed by these bandits from northerners. Not all northerners, of course, but enough for the bandits to continue to carry out their nefarious criminality that is justified by Sheik Gumi. In the Southeast, it is not so. People largely do not feel that their people who are making life difficult for others and causing chaos should be spared. By the very nature of the people of the zone, it will be difficult for clergy of Gumi standing in the region to make bold in defiance to reason and common sense, advocate for amnesty for criminals. However, the goal for southeast political leaders should center on addressing the prevailing undercurrents of unemployment, idleness, crime, and violence among the teeming young populace. Anything else could spell for disastrous for the region.

As the semblance of normalcy continues and activities gradually returning, it is imperative that the state governors and all political leaders of the zone do not go back to the pre-crisis pattern of response and style of leadership, which leaves the people no stake in their government.  Therefore, the governors and all other political leaders in the zone must become proactive and fashion out ways to engage the teaming, educated, and unemployed population as well as manage the unskilled, uneducated youths who are in their numbers all over the zone. Secondly, the issue of herdsmen attack or invasion of cultivated farmlands in the zone must be decisively dealt with and brought to an end, by every means the governors deem fit. It is a tragedy really, for the government to fail to provide job and when one takes the pain of establishing a farm, herdsmen lead their cattle into it and destroy it, and the same government fails to guarantee the safety of individual effort, as well as the individual’s life. Southeast political leadership must put a human face to governance in the region. They must be sympathetic to the troubles of the people they are governing.

Political leadership in the Southeast must understand that moving forward, the region will never be the same again except by the leadership’s own deliberate effort to change the narrative of governance in the zone. This is what will restore the legitimacy of government in the Southeast. The governors must act within the powers of their office and with the resources available to them now; show the people that they are interested in their wellbeing, security, and prosperity. They must stop hiding under the cover of “restructuring” to continue to fail and disappoint the people.

Ebuka Onyekwelu (Staff Writer)
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