In the land of my birth, there is a saying of ageless truth tainted with universal validity. It goes thus, “If a snake fails to deploy its venom, children would mistake as an ordinary rope”
For some days now, SouthEast Nigeria for yet undisclosed and wrong reasons had been in the news securing frontal pages for insecurity. The relative peaceful records of the East have been largely ruffled by proverbial”Unknown gunmen” pillaging relics of dilapidated government correctional facilities. They snuff lives out from anyone on security robe with reckless ease. It has become too risky to dress in police uniform or any other regular security apparel for that matter as such would amount to drawing the ire of these children of anger. Herdsmen dangerously unrestrained are still towering in their orgy of bloodletting. But are their grouses genuine, the unknown gunmen?
Eastern Governors have over the week raked waves for floating a regional security outing code named “EBUBEAGU”. In a 15 paragraphed Communique issued out in a security summit held in Owerri on 11th 2021, EBUBEAGU received life breathe. At this point, plaudits must be hauled at the governor of Enugu State, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi who before now has been in the frontline championing the course of securing the East manifest in his formation of Community Policing and Forest Guards with good results. Certainly, Ugwuanyi as the chief security officer of Enugu State has never shown levity in handling civil unrest triggers. He like the metaphorical Machiavellian Prince perceives factors against state’s peace before hand, and arresting same with sufficient promptitude.
The siting of proposed EBUBEAGU headquarters to Enugu State together with her security conscious Governor as the leader came not as a surprise. Admittedly, old Enugu had always been the Mecca and Jerusalem of all Eastern corporate affairs leveraging on its strategic position, characterized by strong-willed leaders and Gov. Ugwuanyi is no exception. Biblically, to whom much is given; much is equally expected. The bull was taken by its horn. Ugwuanyi has proved his mettle in security matters. Recall that after series of similar security summits held majorly the previous year, was to an extent unproductive. But Ugwuanyi wears the shoes, he knows where it pricks most. His people can not be traded for Political correctness. There was a thrusting need for drastic decisions to shield Enugu citizens who overwhelmingly delivered their mandate to him, from foreseeable avoidable harm from deviants, which he made without a second thought.
Unarguably, with Ugwuanyi on rudder of EBUBEAGU apparatchik, herdsmen, kidnappers and all clad criminals need no tutorial to fathom game over in their lethal activities. Agu an Igbo name for Lion represents multitude of traditional Igbo philosophical beliefs. Of most striking feature its bravery, gentleness but calculative. When a lion roars other tenants in the jungle scamper for safety. It’s time to beat this criminal elements into retreat willy-nilly, so that the greater populace resume routine human endeavors.
Essentially, the Summit is a welcome development across Eastern borderlands and quite long overdue. Next move should be to rally State’s respective House of Assembly as done by their Southwest counterparts to make legislation giving EBUBEAGU legal spine to operate without let or hindrances. In fact, paragraph 14 of the Communique which substantiated the ban on open grazing should as a matter of urgency be judiciously implemented by these operatives bearing in mind that time is of the essence.
The grey hairs of my place are in accord with the truth that “he who comes to another’s home should not cause him troubles, and while leaving too, misfortune should not befall him either.
Governor Ugwuanyi knows how best to take on this, he should continue in leading the campaign against criminality and Herdsmen threat to the timeless peace of the Easternv Nigeria.
BIBIAN ANEKWE NEWS…..Safety and security don’t just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear
Written by
IKEMSINACHI NWA-ONAH
A Political Analyst
MEDIA TEAM MEMBER OF ENUGU DI N’AKACHUKWU MOVEMENT
