Insecurity: Speak-out, Uzodimma Challenges Leaders; Says, “Only Me Cannot Restore Security In Imo State”

By Adesina Soyooye

“Leaders must speak out. And the time to speak out is now. This is not about politics. If they are not doing  so, it means covertly or overtly, something is not adding up, and that, obviously, affects National interest.”

Imo State Governor has bemoaned the conspiracy of silence among leaders, especially, in the South-east, in the face of the frightening insecurity situation.

Like not a few people, the Governor wondered why they were neither speaking out, nor engaging their people, submitting that the situation should have nothing to do with politics. He challenged them to rise above partisan politics and show their love and concern for their people. He noted:

“Only me cannot fight insecurity in Imo State.”

He said that the time has come for all leaders in Imo State to join hands with the Government to restore security and peace  in the state.

A Press Release, signed by his Chief Press Secretary/Special Adviser, Media, Oguwike Nwachuku, said the Governor spoke on Tuesday, in Abuja, with State House Correspondents after a closed door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari  on the state of insecurity in Imo.

“Only me cannot restore security in Imo State. I cannot guarantee security alone in the state. And that is why  I am engaging the traditional rulers, the Town Unions, the Church leaders, the youth and women, to ensure that together we brainstorm on how we can secure our state,” Governor Uzodimma said.

However, the Governor regretted that most leaders in the country in general, and Sout East in particular, are not speaking out as should be expected of them on the (in)security development in the country and the region.

He said it was expected that leaders who had held critical positions in Nigeria should have been at the forefront of the condemnation of the  criminality that is giving vent to insecurity in parts of the country and of late the South East.

Governor Uzodimma noted, for instance, that past Senate Presidents, House of Representatives Speakers, Ministers, Governors and the likes should have been holding town hall meetings with the people in their localities to draw their attention to the dangers of what criminal elements in our midst are doing to abridge the peace of the society

They must do so  in the spirit of patriotism and for national interest.

His words: “Leaders must speak out. And the time to speak out is now. This is not about politics.

If they are not doing so, it means covertly or overtly something is not adding up and that obviously affects our national interest.”

The Governor maintained that in the spirit of the sovereignty of our country everybody must get involved in solving the security problem confronting us, in National interest, or ensure that those causing the problem for everybody are made to face the law.

He reiterated, in the case of Imo State,  that if all the key players  come together the problem of insecurity will be over and the state restored to her peaceful status.