Uzodimma: How IPOB Hijacked Eastern Security Network From Igbo Governors

Imo State governor, Hope Uzodimma, has revealed that the
regional security outfit currently being operated by the Indigenous
People of Biafra (IPOB) – the Eastern Security Network (ESN) – was
a brainchild of the Southeast governors, but was hijacked by the
group.

Uzodimma who disclosed this at the weekend while interacting
with members of the Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of
Journalists (NUJ) in Owerri noted that they abandoned the plan of
using the name for the Southeast regional security outfit after it
was bastardised by IPOB.

The governor also disclosed that the Southeast governors have
plans to hold a summit in Owerri to fashion out modalities for the
setting up of another security outfit for the region.

The summit, the governor said, would take a holistic assessment
of the security situation in the region in order to determine the
best solution to tackle it.

Uzodimma who admitted that pressure was being mounted on them to
launch a strong security outfit for the zone, however, promised
that the security outfit would be different from others when
introduced.

His words: “In the next couple of weeks, governors of the
Southeast will hold a security summit in Owerri with a view to
fashioning out modalities for setting up a security outfit for our
region. We will hold an elaborate discussion with a view to finding
a lasting solution and to complement the work of security agents in
the country.

“It’s necessary for every zone to be vigilant and have a
security outfit, especially with the present situation we have in
this country. We cannot lose faith with the management of security
in our region and at the same time, we must be careful in the way
we go about it.

“Southeast governors tried to set up the Eastern Security
Network by working with Ohanaeze Ndigbo. The Attorneys-General of
the five Southeastern states have already anchored a report on it
and before we know it, IPOB hijacked the name and started using it
to commit crime.

“That arrangement has not stopped. We are trying to take a
review. We will come up with an outfit that will be lasting. We
don’t want to do things because others have done it or be copycats.
There are permutations and we must defend our people and ensure
that there is no external aggression.

“It’s not failure of government because the primary
responsibility of government is to protect the lives and property
of the people.”

Speaking on property looted by previous administrations,
Uzodimma expressed confidence that justice would be done and all
looted property recovered.

He dismissed the claim by former governor of the state, Rochas
Okorocha that recovering property allegedly looted by his
administration was a witch-hunt, stressing that the panel of
recovery of public property did a diligent job by investigating
widely.

He added that Eastern Palm University has been gazetted while
government would soon gazette its finding on the report of the
commission of inquiry on lands and related matters.

Imo State governor, Hope Uzodimma, has revealed that the
regional security outfit currently being operated by the Indigenous
People of Biafra (IPOB) – the Eastern Security Network (ESN) – was
a brainchild of the Southeast governors, but was hijacked by the
group.

Uzodimma who disclosed this at the weekend while interacting
with members of the Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of
Journalists (NUJ) in Owerri noted that they abandoned the plan of
using the name for the Southeast regional security outfit after it
was bastardised by IPOB.

The governor also disclosed that the Southeast governors have
plans to hold a summit in Owerri to fashion out modalities for the
setting up of another security outfit for the region.

The summit, the governor said, would take a holistic assessment
of the security situation in the region in order to determine the
best solution to tackle it.

Uzodimma who admitted that pressure was being mounted on them to
launch a strong security outfit for the zone, however, promised
that the security outfit would be different from others when
introduced.

His words: “In the next couple of weeks, governors of the
Southeast will hold a security summit in Owerri with a view to
fashioning out modalities for setting up a security outfit for our
region. We will hold an elaborate discussion with a view to finding
a lasting solution and to complement the work of security agents in
the country.

“It’s necessary for every zone to be vigilant and have a
security outfit, especially with the present situation we have in
this country. We cannot lose faith with the management of security
in our region and at the same time, we must be careful in the way
we go about it.

“Southeast governors tried to set up the Eastern Security
Network by working with Ohanaeze Ndigbo. The Attorneys-General of
the five Southeastern states have already anchored a report on it
and before we know it, IPOB hijacked the name and started using it
to commit crime.

“That arrangement has not stopped. We are trying to take a
review. We will come up with an outfit that will be lasting. We
don’t want to do things because others have done it or be copycats.
There are permutations and we must defend our people and ensure
that there is no external aggression.

“It’s not failure of government because the primary
responsibility of government is to protect the lives and property
of the people.”

Speaking on property looted by previous administrations,
Uzodimma expressed confidence that justice would be done and all
looted property recovered.

He dismissed the claim by former governor of the state, Rochas
Okorocha that recovering property allegedly looted by his
administration was a witch-hunt, stressing that the panel of
recovery of public property did a diligent job by investigating
widely.

He added that Eastern Palm University has been gazetted while
government would soon gazette its finding on the report of the
commission of inquiry on lands and related matters.