The Conference of South East traditional rulers held in Umuahia, Abia State capital, recently, afforded royal fathers from the zone the opportunity to weigh in on the happenings and development of the region, with a call for the release of the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, and security of the zone on the front burner.
The traditional rulers were hosted by the Abia State Government and the state Council of Traditional Rulers at the magnificent Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC) Secretariat adjacent the Civil Service Secretariat in the serene Ogwurube layout, Umuahia.
In attendance were prominent traditional rulers including the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, the chairmen of Abia and Imo states’ Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Linus Nto Mba and Eze E. C. Okeke, among others. This came on the back of a series of security breaches that the region has suffered in recent times. The ugly development has become a matter of concern to many well-meaning individuals and institutions.
The reason for the worry is not far-fetched: no sustainable development, economically or socially, can take place amidst insecurity. Before now, the call for regional economic integration led the agenda of meetings of this nature. But now the concern has dramatically shifted to security of lives and property to underscore the preeminent priority of life over other existential considerations.
This is because security in the otherwise peaceful South East of Nigeria has taken frightening dimensions. So far, efforts made by various state governments in the zone, even in collaboration with federal security agencies, appeared to be yielding little result as kidnapping for ransom, armed robbery and other violent crimes have persisted, almost becoming a daily occurrence across the zone.
Reports of high profile killings have for instance, made living in Anambra State a harrowing experience to residents and visitors. The other four states of the region – Imo, Enugu, Ebonyi and Abia – are not spared the agony as well, though at varying degrees.
Nnamdi Kanu
The South East monarchs Umuahia meeting, in which they demanded the release of Nnamdi Kanu from custody and by extension setting a security agenda for the governors and other stakeholders in the zone, is therefore intentional and understandable.
The South East zone needs sustained peace and security in order to enhance the development of the region, improve governance and ensure that the individuals and different organisations in the region thrive and enjoy a shared prosperity. The issues deliberated on were weighty – the urgent need for peace, security and unity in the region; other matters of common interest to the region and the way forward and sustainability.
The monarchs observed that peace, development and unity were indispensable in accelerating development in the South East and bemoaned the level of insecurity that has consistently sabotaged genuine development initiatives.
Chairman’s presentation
In his address, the Chairman of South East Traditional Rulers Council and Chairman, Imo State Traditional Rulers Council, Eze E. C. Okeke appreciated the determination of Governor Alex Otti in transforming Abia State.
He added that South East traditional rulers were proud of his achievements in putting together the necessary machinery for the greater development of the state. He noted that the council resolved to meet in Abia’s capital city to discuss and take critical decisions on issues confronting the region based on the prevailing peace and security in the state.
Also, the Chairman of Abia State Traditional Rulers Council, Eze Linus Nto Mba, renewed the appeal to President Bola Tinubu to release the IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, arguing that his continued incarceration was the reason for the intractable insecurity in the zone.
He explained that the primary aim of hosting the South East traditional rulers was to address the knotty issue of insecurity, which he described as inimical to investment and development in the geopolitical zone. He argued that the call for the unconditional release of Kanu had become imperative because it held the key to the peace and security of the region as criminal elements were taking advantage of the situation to perpetrate crime.
According to him: “The council is deeply concerned about the security of the Eastern states. We are united in our resolve to work alongside our governors to ensure that the region is secured. “We are pleading with the Federal Government to release Nnamdi Kanu.
This will help to restore peace and we will then be able to identify and address those who continue to create unrest in the region.” Mba reiterated that the traditional rulers were committed to peace and security in the zone, assuring that they would work with their various state governments to stabilise the region.
The Chairman of Umuahia North Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Innocent Nwaigwe, in his remarks, commended Otti for the harmonious working relationship existing between the state government and the traditional institution. Like other traditional rulers, he too insisted that the release of Kanu would ensure lasting peace in the South East region.
Otti’s comment
Otti, who was part of the one-day meeting, commended the traditional rulers for the initiative even as he expressed appreciation to them for their commendable engagements in their various communities and domains. He spoke on the tradition and culture of the people and urged them to be at the forefront of promoting and preserving the rich cultural heritage of the people.
Otti described culture as an identity that defined a people and frowned at the fast discarding of family ties and relationships in an effort to emerge as traditional rulers in some kingdoms. He recognised Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe’s Onitsha as a model of what a kingdom should be.
The governor warned that a traditional ruler should not be imposed on the people because of his financial advantage over others, insisting that due process must be followed for a monarch to ascend the throne. He reminded them of the pivotal role traditional institutions play in democracy. He also shared his concept of power and leadership with the traditional rulers, describing power as transient.
According to him, power should be a vehicle to demonstrate stewardship, with a positive impact on the people. He called on citizens to hold those in authority accountable. This is as he further explained that his concept of leadership was responsible for the transformational style in stewardship devoid of self-aggrandisement in delivering services to the people.
Efforts
Before now, several efforts have been made by different organisations, groups and individuals, including the government of the five eastern states, seeking the release of the IPOB leader. In all, they are unanimous that Kanu’s imprisonment is responsible for the prevailing insecurity in the five South East states.
The South East Governor’s Forum, apart from their individual appeals, also demanded his release. A group of House of Representatives members have also made similar demands. The Ohanaeze Ndigbo have in several fora appealed to the Federal Government and the President to release Kanu in order for peace to return to the South East zone.
Sadly, all the efforts yielded no positive result as Kanu has remained with the Department of State Services (DSS). Some analysts have read between the lines to find proper interpretation to the Federal Government’s non-committal to the insecurity in the South East.
They disclosed that the Federal Government is not so much interested in how the South East fared. They noted that the region seems left to self-destruct and collapse of its economy especially through the Monday stay-at-home that has become a norm in all the states of the region.
Many observers also hold this view as they find it difficult to understand the reason for Kanu’s continuous incarceration despite the fact several courts of competent jurisdictions have ordered his release and even awarded costs to him in some of the cases.
This they argued is led credence by the release of separatist agitators like Sunday (Igboho) Adeyemo and Omoyele Sowore, who were also in custody at different points on charges of insurrection against the state but later let off the hook and set free.