The Labour Party’s National Vice Chairman for the South-East region, Chief Innocent Okeke, has expressed deep concern over the increasing number of killings in Imo State. He accused both the Federal and Imo State governments of passivity while innocent citizens were being slaughtered.
Okeke made this declaration in response to the recent killing of security operatives in Ehime Mbano, Imo State. In a bold challenge, he called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Hope Uzodinma to put aside their party affiliations and uncover the masterminds behind the state’s mayhem.
According to Chief Okeke, “The purpose of governance becomes futile if the lives of both the governed and the security agencies are not protected, as is the case in Imo State. The state has regrettably descended into a state of lawlessness and total anarchy, where individuals are uncertain about their safety even within the next thirty minutes.”
He alleged that despite the distressing circumstances, both the Nigerian government and the Imo State government have failed to take proactive measures to prevent further occurrences and adequately protect their citizens. They passively observe as lives are destroyed on a daily basis, he said.
Okeke emphasized that the recent incident in Ehime Mbano is just one among many that have been underreported and left uninvestigated in Imo State. He questioned the lack of significant measures put in place to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.
“The government of Imo State seems more interested in re-election than finding solutions to this dire situation. It is imperative that the government identifies the source of these ‘unknown gunmen’ within their territory, understands their grievances, and engages them in dialogue,” he added.
Chief Innocent Okeke also urged the Imo State government to prioritize the restoration of confidence among its citizens in terms of security. He emphasized the importance of allowing those who have been forced to flee the state in the past four years to return, as well as attracting investors back to Imo State to reignite its economic growth.
He called on the government to be open to criticism and ideas from the people, instead of blaming opposition parties for the state’s insecurity issues. Okeke condemned the reprisal attack by soldiers on defenceless citizens in Ehime Mbano and stressed the need for restraint and emotional control among security officers.
In conclusion, Chief Innocent Okeke implored the federal government to take a vested interest in the current security situation in Imo State and the broader South East region. Restoring peace in this region, he argued, would significantly contribute to the overall recovery of the Nigerian economy.
