The Apex Igbo socio-culture Organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has today called on the governors of the southeast as a matter of urgency to arrest the security situation that has engulfed the region should find a way of dialoguing with the arrant youth that has gone bizarre.
The intervention by the Igbo elders is coming at the peak of a security situation that is threatening to throw the whole region into turmoil by weapon brandishing youth who are determined to wreck the whole region into chaos.
Over the weekend, Ikonso Don, a leader and the commander of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Eastern Security Network, (ESN) was hunted down by the security forces together with five others, a singular action his IPOB youth supporters vowed to take revenge.
Daily Post reported that the Secretary-General of the Ohanaeze, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro revealed that any delay by the governors in inviting the youth for negotiation would not auger well for the region.
Ohanaeze believed that long neglect of the youth by politicians and the unprovoked killing of agitators by security forces are responsible for the current situation in the southeast.
According to Ohanaeze, “We have two challenges- the killer herdsmen who have been ravaging the land and nothing serious was done to checkmate them, Secondly, the neglect of the youths while politicians lived in affluence.
“However, we must all know that whatever is happening is to our own disadvantage and the enemies are happy that the South-East is burning.
“The Federal Government has also not implemented the promises it made during the EndSARS, especially with regards to financial compensation of victims. We also did not see much from them in the form of palliatives during the COVID-19 lockdown, so the youths are angry.
The statement further stated that “Now, talking about the South-East Governors meeting on Sunday, they still missed the point. The people at the center of it all-the youths were not in any way represented during the meeting.
“What we are saying is that everybody should rise up to the occasion; the governors are trying but what is happening is beyond them and we have to help them.”
“There should be town hall meetings; there should be an interface, engagements with the youths, the youths are not happy with the system they found themselves in Nigeria.
Ohanaeze warned that “The governors are even setting up committees without the youths, without their representatives. We are calling on the governors and other stakeholders to reach out to the youths; they should give what belongs to the youths to them. There is danger ahead and that danger can be averted now. If they fail to do so, it will not augur well for our people,”