Rising from their security meeting last week, the governors of South Eastern states of Nigeria agreed to set up a security outfit to secure the region from bandits, herdsmen, unknown gun men and other criminals terrorising South Eastern states. There decision to float the long awaited security architecture for the overall benefit of Ndigbo akin to what their colleagues in the South West have done some months back received accolades and approval of many South Easterners and beyond. Before this meeting which gave rise to the proposal of the security architecture, there have been several others during which the governors dwelt on a long range of issues including security, commerce, regional integration, etc. In some of those meetings, regional security outfit was suggested severally to be codenamed “Ogbunigwe” but was always rejected. A very vocal and elderly governor who decamped from the opposition party to the ruling party recently have always rejected it. Incidentally, this same governor was the Chairman of the South Eastern Governors forum.
When the South Western States launched “amotekun” as thier regional outfit, it was well celebrated. It was a kind of mockery on the South Eastern governors because it has been on thier table for over six months before their South West counterparts started discussing theirs but “Amotekun” have come on stream ever since with appropriate legislation backing the security outfit up in virtually all the South Western states.
When the South Eastern governors rejected the idea, governor Ugwuanyi came back to Enugu and gave his state a water tight security scheme through the establishment of the forest guards, community policing, vigilante groups, MOT traffic police, etc. Instead of walking against or being at war with federal security outfits, those in Enugu State is working in good relationship with the regular security outfits. They are complementing the efforts of the regular security outfits and this have given Enugu State a better security coverage.
Even then, some of the governors wanted them to copy Enugu example and improve on it but is still hit a brick wall. Funny enough, they could not do it in their individual states because they have different mindset and idealogy from Gburu-Gburu of Enugu state.
Now, the governors have unanimously agreed and proposed the outfit in a surprisingly Volta-face to align with Governor Ugwuanyi’s ideas completely. Nothing was removed from what Gov Ugwuanyi have been presenting all the while. They wholely bought his idea. What a visionary personae! Now, they have resolved to form “Ebubeagu” security outfit to provide additional security to the region. Among other things they resolved that the outfit will also embark on is information and intelligent gathering, relate the information to necessary authorities and remain civil and friendly in their duties. This is what Gov Ugwuanyi have been shouting for over three years. They also resolved to fund the organization jointly. This has never been a problem. Individuals are even ready to fund it partly provided they are secured. This is what the chairman of the forum have kicked against and insisted that no one should tell him how to secure his state. Now that he was highly overwhelmed and swallowed by insecurity, he is the one championing all Gburu Gburu’s idea. If they had agreed with him earlier and keyed into his vision, it wouldn’t have been so bad like this in the South East.
Thank God that they know better today. Nothing is as sweet as the idea whose time has come. “EBUBEAGU” is an idea whose time is here courtesy of the visionary leadership of Governor Ugwuanyi, the Gburu-Gburu of the world. May EBUBEAGU see the light of the day and not just a mere proposal. We give all glory to the God Almighty for gifting Ndigbo with the likes of Rt. Honorable Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi. Enugu State is truly in the hands of God.
Written by
Leonard Ugwu
Media team member of Enugu di n’akachukwu movement
