Vice President Kashim Shettima, on Friday, December 29, hinted at President Bola Tinubu’s firm resolve to end the reign of terror in the southeast region of the country.
According to a statement issued by his Spokesman, Stanley Nkwocha, the Vice President described those behind security crisis as self-serving criminals and certain persons taking advantage of the security situation to foster their dangerous political agenda.
According to him, the President had been worried about the economic devastation inflicted on the southeast geopolitical zone by non-state actors since he assumed office and is determined to deploy all available resources to eliminate the purveyors of falsehoods and propaganda that have become weapons against Nigeria’s unity.
Shettima disclosed this in Bende, Abia State, during the unveiling of the Peace in South East Project (PISE-P) by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu.
Before the unveiling ceremony, President Tinubu was conferred with the traditional title of Omeziri Igbo 1 at the grand civic reception held in honour of the Deputy Speaker.
Shettima, who received the title on behalf of the President, was also conferred with the traditional title of Enyioma Ndigbo by the Chairman of the Abia State Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Linus Mbah.
This heralded the unveiling of the Peace in the South East Project in Bende, Abia State.
Delivering his speech titled, “Why We are all Umunna,” VP Shettima said: “His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has been concerned about the extensive economic devastation inflicted by non-state actors on this beautiful region since we took office. He is acutely aware that our commitment to Nigeria’s future remains incomplete as long as we grapple with the sinister operations of economic saboteurs who masquerade as advocates for the Ndi-Igbo.
“That’s why he’s determined to utilize all available resources to ensure that the peace we’re establishing in this region is not cosmetic, and we can’t guarantee it unless all of us see through the falsehoods and propaganda that have become weapons against our unity.”
Senator Shettima noted that the gory activities of the criminals holding the South East captive are self-serving and do not in any way represent the interests of Ndi-Igbo and the entire country.
He said the terror groups that have held the South East to ransom are not a creation of the people of the region, or of Nigerians from other parts of the country.
The problem we are here to solve as a community, as an Umunna, is a creation of self-serving criminals who do not represent the interests of the Ndi-Igbo and Nigerians. Mr. President knows this better than all of us, and that’s why he has never held any group accountable for the infractions of law-breaking individuals who identify as their members. This, I believe, is the democracy we have all chosen,” he stated.
Pointing out that the criminals disrupting the peace in the South-East are doing so in connivance with “forces exploiting the situation for dangerous political agenda,” the Vice President said attempts to undo the hard work of the nation’s heroes past will fail.
He maintained however that the catastrophic situation can’t be reversed unless the government involves the people whom he said are the ears, legs and mouths in the region.
“Today, we stand united to firmly declare: enough is enough,” VP Shettima stated, stressing the need for a coordinated intervention to tackle insecurity in the region head-on, even as he assured the South East people that the Tinubu administration “shall not rest until it fulfills its pledge to mitigate the crisis” it inherited.
Noting that no better visionary can save the nation from implosion than President Tinubu,” he said the development agenda of the federal government in the South East will continue to elude the region if “the intricate web of security challenges” the Tinubu-led federal government inherited is not contained.
“The seeds of progress can only sprout in the fertile soil of peace and security. This is why we take immense pride in the collaboration of all stakeholders and initiatives such as the Peace in South East Project, to ensure that the shield of security in the region isn’t a distant mirage in the landscape of aspirations,” the VP further noted.
He commended the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and convener of the peace initiative, Hon. Kalu, for his efforts to restore lasting peace in the South East region, just as he said the event attests “to the profound understanding that no one comprehends the experience of a community better than the people themselves.”
