Insecurity in South East: Grant amnesty, Nze Chukwu counsels

Nze Ozichukwu Chukwu, a political leader, former national Vice Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and currently the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Association of Igbo Town Unions Worldwide, granted an interview recently on diverse issues, especially, concerning Ndigbo.
He spoke, for instance, on Governor Hope Uzodinma’s recent meeting with Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on the calls for Igbos to relocate their investments to the South East zone and on the security challenges in the region.
Here is the highly cerebral and philosophical Nze Chukwu at his best.

Q. Nze, Gov Uzodinma was in Lagos recently with some Igbo leaders to interact with Governor Sanwo-olu of Lagos on the ongoing threats to the lives of the Igbo, demolitions of their Shops and destruction of their wares.

A. I think it is the most brilliant, thoughtful and laudable thing to do. He is the Chairman of Progressive Governors Forum as well as the Chairman of South East Governors Forum.
I believe in the civilisation of dialogue. And I think that the intervention is quite necessary.

Q. Given the roles you have been playing in that regard, especially as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Association of Igbo Town Unions Worldwide, we had expected that you would have been there with them.

A. It was the Governor’s initiative and within his sole discretion to invite whomsoever he wanted.
It does not matter whom he went with. The important question is whether the purpose was achieved.
Given the statement of the host Governor Sanwo Olu of Lagos, I guess, the purpose has been substantially achieved.
I am in daily contact with the Town Union leadership and the executives of fifty-eight (58) Market Associations in Lagos. We have a very active population in the South-West.

Q. Sir, many people are of the strong opinion that the Igbo should relocate to the South East.

A. Yes. We are all advocates of Aku Ruo Ulo. Not in the spirit of ‘pack and go’ but by way of expansion, opening up of new branches and replication of achievements. As they retire from the markets wherever and go home; they can consider moving their Headquarters close to their homes from where they can operate with ease and comfort; but not to close shops in their former places of abode.

Q. Is this the best sir?

A. I don’t know of good, better, best.
However, I think losing grounds hold no promises and speaks of no future.
What you have, you hold.
I have said it somewhere else that, we cannot be fruitful or fulfilled in the safety of the void.
I love the way we let our brains out of bondage and rarely suffer elephant chain syndrome. We should remain unique and let others neither anticipate nor preempt us.
We should neither loose our individuality nor our authenticity. Our reflexes are always a marvel. For those who want Ndigbo uprooted from their present abodes, please remind them.
It was Mokokoma Mokhonoana who said;
“We love being mentally strong, but we hate situations that allow us to put our mental strength to good use.”
We can learn from the Jews, Indians and Lebanese how to overcome adversity, manage diversity, conflicts and contradictions.

Q. Many people think otherwise.

A. Have you found out what more people are thinking and what most people prefer in this regard?
Look, I feel your pulse and share your concerns. But truth be told. We must stop at nothing to let peace and love return to Imo.

I think we’ve completed our honeymoon period, and now is the stormy phase of adjustment or can I say adaptation, the riots not withstanding, we will wake up to the sunshine.
Our fears are built on evident conflicting emotions and fractured bonds.
What I pray is that we don’t get trapped in the dance of destiny in this unfortunate age of rage.
We have to adjust towards a growth mindset where fears and doubts are subdued by faith, hope and Divine assurance.
We are adventurous and adventures are functions of incurable optimism.

I think it is Amaka Imani Nkosazana who said in Heart Crush:
“You push the TRUTH off a cliff, but it will always fly. You can submerge the TRUTH under water, but it will not drown. You can place the TRUTH in the fire, but it will survive. You can bury the TRUTH beneath the ground, but it will arise. TRUTH always prevails!”

As Suzy Kassem, in “Rise Up and Salute the Sun” wrote:
“Sometimes we have to soak ourselves in the tears and fears of the past to water our future gardens.”

I enjoin Steve Maraboli in The Power of One to tell our people.
“Today, you have the opportunity to transcend from a disempowered mindset of existence to an empowered reality of purpose-driven living. Today is a new day that has been handed to you for shaping. You have the tools, now get out there and create a masterpiece.”

Accidents are for a purpose and disasters help re-shape the spirituality, structures, strategies, systems, skills and styles; transform physical and social infrastructures and remodel political and economic stabilisation frameworks.

Let’s not quit.

Like Roopleen advised: Quitting is never an option on the road to success. Find the way forward. If you have a positive mindset and are willing to persevere, there is little that is beyond your reach. The attitude of being ready to work even in the face of challenges and despite odds is what will make all the difference in your life.

In the words of Ernest Agyemang Yeboah: Life is good! It is only our thoughts, choices and actions towards the situations we meet in life each moment of time that makes life look bad! The same bad situation in life that makes one person think badly inspires another to do a noble thing! The same good situation in life that makes one person feel so good to get into a bad situation inspires another person to create another good situation because of the good situation. It is all about thoughts, choices and actions! Life is good! Live it well!

Finally, let me remind you of the immortal words of John Locke: Men always forget that human happiness is a disposition of mind and not a condition of circumstances.

And I verily agree.

Q. Wow. Great?

A. What? My soliloquy?

Q. Quite amazing, Sir.

A. Your questions are provoking.
Take it to the bank that:
Please don’t ever conjecture individual triumph and thwart the people’s will to propel collective tragedy. As you scuttle their zeal; you lack the power to seal what providence has done and dusted as deal.

Q. Sorry. In your last interview, you spoke of Governor Hope and Imo State.

A. Yes. I remember. Any problems?

Q. Some of your PDP members expressed some reservations.

A. What a pity! Well, I was neither addressing them nor speaking on their behalf. I spoke as a member of Imo Elders Council, conscious of the fact that I was also Chairman of Imo Elders Council in Abuja.
It was a time not to allow partisan sentiments override calculations.
I stand by whatever I said.
I have said in another platform that I feel deeply disappointed that people stay outside the scenes of hostilities and make very unhelpful postulations. Some try to redefine situations to suit their circumstances.
What I am saying is “ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.” The communities are deserted. The farms are fallow.
Our schools are empty. The fighting and killings are going on. People are living in fears. The markets are dry. Economic activities are at a standstill and social lives are non existent. Prices are skyrocketing and beyond the reach of most people. The middle class is being wiped off by hyper inflation. Everywhere, everyone experiences unbearable sense of scarcity and want. The old are dying. Our children are crying. We are killing ourselves.
We keep acting the fool and become sorry spectacles. Quashiokor has announced its deadly presence.
Let us call for a truce and count our loses.
We need to drop the guns. Withdraw our youths from the forests and the streets.
Let the refugees return home. Exhume our dead wherever they are buried, take them home for honourable burial. Let’s begin to rebuild. And breath life into our lifeless society.
It’s time to draw the line and let sanity prevail. PEACE. PEACE AND PEACE. That those who jeer, will cheer.
We need guts not guns.

In 1970, Gowon proposed the 3Rs. He became overwhelmed and overthrown. He failed us. Now we are failing ourselves and pleading the 3Rs. RECONCILIATION, RECONSTRUCTION AND REHABILITATION.
Without a second thought we are saying let the killings, kidnapping and gory tales continue.
Today our people can only draw strength from escathological fairy-tales. Meaningful hope has taken flight. They seem to forget the interrogation of and command to Moses by God in Exodus Chapters 3, 4 and 14.
In fact and in truth our Bushes are on Fire and Burning.
“What do you have in your hand… Use it.” God has given us brain, intellect and common sense. We have physical strength and good health. Instead of creating wealth, we are ruining investments and investing in collective death.
What do we do in the circumstance? What are the solutions? How do we get out of the quagmire. How do we manage our adversity and benefit from our diversity or do we remain lost in concentric circles of ambiguity? Amakaleme.

Do we stop the killings, kidnappings, raping, destructions and sources of agony or let them continue?. The hardships are unimaginable. We have not been fair to ourselves. Bequething ignominy to posterity.
It’s time to take a break and make a choice. To embrace our manifest destiny for immortality or decay.
The trials and tribulations must not continue. Those who want them to continue should park and relocate home to share in the traumatic experience, the horror and sorrow.
Those who want a change must step out and speak up.

We need the rehabilitation of moribund INDUSTRIES littered here and there in Imo State, the Dredging of the Oguta Port, and the establishment of the OIL AND GAS PROCESSING FREE ZONE to provide jobs to our youths and teeming population; and a healthy environment to grow and prosper.

With these initiatives, the issue is not Hope, but us and the future.

These will stimulate Business-led initiatives, such as research and development partnerships, knowledge-sharing platforms, technology and skills transfer, and infrastructure investment that have the potential to kick-start development, enable productivity gains, generate better quality jobs, strengthen skills and promote technological advancements.

In addition to these, I did suggest that the Governor may need to pay more attention to and improve on the security of the lives and property of Imolites and provide better welfare and greater wellbeing to the teeming youths of Imo State. I am just speaking as a spectator. I don’t know his constraints and limitations in terms of the total environment, data and resources.

Q. What do you think the Governor should do to improve the security of the state.

A. Listen. Remember, he has a lot of information which I do not have access to. Fortunately, he has access and reach. Most often leaders are at the mercy of their handlers and security apparati. Governor Hope, may not be an exception. Whatever he does, is a function of the quality of the information he has and the integrity of his aides. Again, whatever he wants done, unless the elites buy-in, it will not succeed. Are the Governor’s Advisers and Liasion Officers in each LGA active, working, responsible and responsive? How many Traditional Rulers operate from their communities and how many are absentee gate keepers? How many Chairmen of Local Governments reside in their Local Governments? Are the Local Governments functioning? How many constituency offices of our national and state legislators are in place? When the communities are fallow as a result of absentee community leaders, what would you expect? Of course anarchy, lawlessness and decay will be enthroned. With all the criticisms we have against our religious leaders, they are today the only ones who care and live with the people whatever the circumstances. The only ones who have not abandoned the people. That is the test of their vocations, a testimony to their Christlikeness. Their road to sainthood.
I think the issue of insecurity in Imo State is very complex. The solutions call for convergence of strengths, strong character, capacity and commitment, sincerity and solidarity.

Q. The suggestions Sir?

A. Well, we have to pay the price for peace; by collective forgiveness and genuine reconciliation.

Remember in Sept. 2009, President Yar’Adua initiated an amnesty program whose objectives and deliverables, were anchored on three bankable phases:

(1) Disarmament,
to focus on the collection of biometric data and financial compensation.

(2) Demobilization and rehabilitation,
to include among others, payment of stipends, counselling and career guidance for the participants.

(3) Reintegration, to include the provision of, among other things, training, funds, microcredits and jobs for the participants.

This template could be replicated and applied to the aggregate of discordant and uncoordinated activists fueling and steering the unrest in Imo.

In addition, should be a TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION mainly to take care of the records of the maiming, killings and deaths. To compensate losses, pay for every drop of blood lost, and “monetise” sympathies for grieves, grieviances and bereavements.

I am greatly inclined to agree with the suggestion of His Excellency Sen Owelle Rochas Okorocha for a meeting of the old leaders. I believe that by the time you bring His Grace Archbishop AJV Obinna, Metropolitan Emeritus, of Owerri Catholic Ecclesiastical Province; HE Achike Udenwa, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, HE Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha, Dist Sen Ifeanyi Ararume and His Excellency Dist Sen Hope Uzodinma, Executive Governor of Imo State to purge themselves of ill will, engage with open mind devoid of self interest; driven by sincere love for Imo State and Ndi Imo, b⁶y the time they sit together, embrace one another, eat and drink, discuss and resolve to bury the hatchets, debrief their men and bring to an end the issues of insecurity, the threats, fear and doubts will all, either evaporate or be erased. And there may be no tragic reoccurrence or horrific renewal of hostilities.

The next would be for them to assemble their colleagues and intensify efforts at the national level for the release of Nnamdi Kanu.

Q. Why Archbishop Obinna.

A. Please, spare me that for now. Rest assured, it’s in good faith.
Remember it is claimed of Winston Churchill.
“The farther backward you can look, the farther forward you can see.”

Q. Some people think the Governor has not done enough.

A. The facts should speak for themselves. The governor should speak for himself. Though irredeemable mistakes have been made on all sides, yet they are not beyond pardon as children of God. I speak as a neutral observer.
I have canvassed the following in different words in other platforms that I belong.

Tom Brokaw once said: “It’s easy to make a buck. It’s a lot tougher to make a difference.”
We are in this together. There’s no passing the buck. Blame games will take us no where and do us no good.
It may be necessary to put these things in proper historical perspective. Like Steve Vechenzy would say in his, Rule of Chaos;
“It is what you expect that you see, the unexpected is left unnoticed.”
His Excellency has been in office for three and a half years in the midst of crises and crowd.
If one is to judge him fairly, he has done well; but for the areas of security, he has performed way beyond average. Like I have maintained, the state of security in Imo leaves so much to be desired. There is cause and effect.
It will be necessary for us to take together the combined wisdom of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Antonio Guterres:

Arnold Schwarzenegger said: “Government’s first duty and highest obligation is public safety.”
While Antonio Guterres, United Nations Secretary General opined that: “Humanitarian response, sustainable development, and sustaining peace are three sides of the same triangle.”

No one is happy about the killings and kidnappings in Imo state. Everyone wants peace to return to Imo but many forget, we tend to forget that: Safety is a way of life and the door to it swings on the hinges of common sense. It begins with team work and there should be zero tolerance on team work.

Sometime ago, suggestions and memos were submitted towards organising SECURITY SUMMIT in Imo but they were turned down with the excuse that security matters are not for public consumption.
To me, every life matters. Security, therefore, should be everyone’s business.

It was Abraham Lincoln who charged that: “Next to creating a life, the finest thing a man can do is save one.”
I believe that if those close to the governor can convince him to grant Amnesty and set up a Peace and Reconciliation Commission, the insecurity in Imo would be courageously addressed and drastically reduced.
Remember the attendant woes and worries triggered by the ravaging invasion of Igboland by Fulani Herdsmen. Ndigbo in unison rose against it.

The lackadaisical attitude of the governors of the South East at the time provoked the formation on December 12, 2020 of the Eastern Security Network (ESN) “to protect Igbos against Fulani raiders.” The governors made the mistake of going to Aso Rock and appealing to President Buhari to send armed soldiers to come to the South East and settle domestic quarrels instead of addressing the Herdsmen issues and settling them.
In the South West, the Amotekun was established on January 9, 2020. After much pressure from Ndigbo at home and abroad, as a result of rising insecurity, the South-East governors later set up the South Eastern Regional Security Outfit named Ebubeagu on 12th April 2021.
The fear of PMB pervaded the South East and struck routine administrative seizures on the political gladiators. Gen Abel Umahi who was appointed the General Commander; unfortunately, resigned. As a result things fell apart and with that each state fell back on its tent. From early October 2021, the 302 Artillery Regiment led by Col Abdulkarim Usman launched Excercise Golden Dawn in Anambra State.
Earlier from 27 November to 27 December, 2016 the Army subjected the Igbo to a crushing Python Dance. On Tuesday, June 06, 2017 Ndigbo were served notice to relocate within three months from the North to the East. Thank God, we survived all these.
In the South West the OPC is fully collaborating with Amotekun. I do not know why efforts could have not been made to bring ESN and Ebubeagu Security Networks to collaborate and work together. Amnesty is an option and where necessary compensations can be paid as a sacrifice for an enduring peace. Our investments are in peace. If we can borrow from the wisdom of President Jonathan, no one’s ambition is worth the life of anyone.

However, whatever that happened had happened. The question now is the way forward. How can these things be stopped.
Let us put our minds and acts together and find out what to do to provide jobs, safety nets and social insurance for our youths. We must give them HOPE. PEACE IS ACHIEVABLE.

Q. Why do you propose and support the granting of amnesty to these killers.

A. Amnesty has worked else where. It will also work here if religiously applied. During Governor Okorocha’s regime, it was applied. If I remember very well, the administration of the Imo Amnesty Program was under the office of Her Excellency, Nneoma Nkechi Okorocha.
I opt for amnesty not for killers but for those that I regard as the previously aggrieved but now the repentant among us.

Q. Why?

A. I learnt from Oscar Wilde, in his A Woman Of No Importance that: “The only difference between the saint and the sinner is that every saint has a past and every sinner has a future.”
It was Saul who became Paul.
It is evident from History that converts are the greatest vessels and instruments for the reconciliation of the cross and the crown.

Our young feel totally abandoned and grossly betrayed. And they feel they can take their fate in their hands.
The crises we are experiencing are as a result of a litany of broken trusts and sad memories of unkept promises.
There is distrust everywhere.
Even in the pulpit and with charismatic evangelism there is deep suspicion, and betrayal. There’s always the fear that encouraging cafeteria christianity with its cartoon miracles, could aggravate faith crises which is today self evident; with the alleged commercialisation of faith.

We know what has led us to this point. And we are all guilty because we refused to act when we should have done so. To move forward, we should settle for Amnesty.
Amnesty will help to restore self pride, healing wounds, injecting fresh hope, bonding families, and neighbours, and building bridges across the nation and peacemaking worldwide between the diaspora communities and their hosts.

Unfortunately, Ndigbo everywhere have become portraits of silent anguish; yet remain optimistic in the battle between men and history. At the end, as usual, they will overcome.

The leadership seem to neither have the interest nor the capacity to “halt these outbreaks of bewildering hysteria; an avalanche of revolutionary ideas in form of strange religious secularism (new cultism) and cultural nihilism in which disasters are being celebrated and positive triumphs denigrated.

At the national level, amnesty will help in identifying sources of conflicts, developing concepts, constructing platforms and networks, and engineering processes for sustainable peace building.

Ndigbo are already determined to shun vengeful historical triumphalism, manage the traumas of new laws and old enemies, the woes and worries; and pull the people out of chasms of despair. This is evidenced by the Committee just set up by the concluded meeting of Governors Hope Uzodinma and Sanwo Olu of Imo and Lagos States respectively; to review the demolition exercise in Alaba International Market and broker lasting peace among the Igbo and the Yoruba in Lagos.

Q. Do you think that President Tinubu will share this sentiment.

A. I will rather say reason same way, rather than the word sentiment.
I do not know what he is thinking. What I am sure of is that he has a mind of his own. He will act more on conviction but will not be driven by convention. The Peace Committee is a good signal of what to expect. I pray the will, will be sustained.

President Obasanjo is very unique. In some cases he reminded me of the saintly Bishop Nwedo and the ever hygienic Monsignor Ahaji-Nwoga with their lives of the restlessness of a hunter and intuition of a true genius, attributes beyond the secular episodes of history.
Like Nwedo-Nzeribe and Ahaji-Nwoga, President Yar’Adua on the other hand endeavoured always to understand not only the requirements of the society and time but also appreciated the motives of neighbours and competitors.
A lot are at stake.
This madness has to stop now. For every minute of delay, life is lost.

Ozoemena. Not again. No not anymore.

Q. Nze, we request you please summarise.

A. Summarise. Ok. Let me just recall Robert G. Ingersoll in his reflections on INDIVIDUALITY:

“HIS SOUL WAS LIKE A STAR AND DWELT APART.”

A monarch said to a hermit, “Come with me and I will give you power.”
“I have all the power that I know how to use,” replied the hermit. “Come,” said the king, “I will give you wealth.”
“I have no wants that money can supply,” said the hermit.”I will give you honor,” said the monarch.
“Ah, honor cannot be given, it must be earned,” was the hermit’s answer.
“Come,” said the king, making a last appeal, “and I will give you happiness.”
“No,” said the man of solitude, “there is no happiness without liberty, and he who follows cannot be free.”
“You shall have liberty too,” said the king.
“Then I will stay where I am,” said the old man.
And all the king’s courtiers thought the hermit a fool.

But the Hermit was the only man. He was free and at peace.

Ka chi fo nu.