Former Senate Minority Leader and current senator representing Abia South, Enyinnaya Abaribe, has said the arrest and continued detention of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu, by the Federal Government, is a major factor contributing to the escalating insecurity in the South East region of Nigeria.
Speaking at an event in Enugu, Abaribe emphasized the need to address the crisis while simultaneously focusing on other pressing issues affecting the zone, including economic challenges and political dynamics.
He said some security issues in the region were contrived, making it appear as if they were impossible by security agencies.
Abaribe called for a comprehensive paradigm shift in various aspects of the Southeast, including governance trajectory, cultural and traditional reappraisal, business and commercial practices, economic orientation, and political alignments.
He urged the people of the region to return to their progressive and development-conscious roots, highlighting the historical success of collaborative efforts in community development.
The senator emphasized the need for the Igbo community to stop complaining and confront the reality with tact and zeal.
He stressed that the region must draw from its past successes and leverage its collective strength to address the prevailing challenges.
Abaribe urged the Igbo people to embrace self-rediscovery and commit to progress, stating that the insecurity in the region did not start with the Nnamdi Kanu/IPOB saga in 2021.
While acknowledging the challenges faced by the Igbo community within the Nigerian project, Abaribe emphasized the importance of self-reliance and unity.
He encouraged the people to move beyond grievances, quoting an Igbo adage: “onye ajuru aju, anaghi aju onwe ya” (he who refuses to play, won’t enjoy his game).
“Our progress going forward must now be dependent on how we use this self-rediscovery,” he declared.
