Traditional rulers in Igboland have resolved to galvanise their various communities to tackle the spate of insecurity in the country in general and Igboland in particular. The traditional rulers who met yesterday in Owerri, the Imo State capital, under the umbrella of Igbo Traditional Rulers’ Forum, expressed regret that despite efforts being made by both the federal and state governments, criminal elements have continued in their nefarious activities of killing and kidnapping innocent citizens across the country and resolved that hence forth, every community in Igboland should brace up to the challenge and employ every legitimate means within their reach to flush out criminal elements from their communities.
The forum noted that while it recognises the need to liaise with governments at all levels in carrying out the task of making the country safe and secure, the situation has become such that everybody should be involved, adding that the time has come for Ndigbo to deploy those traditional methods with which they protected their people in the past. While agreeing that some unscrupulous elements in the country have turned banditry and kidnapping into big time business, the forum noted that the government should step up efforts at creating more opportunities for youth empowerment, pointing out that much of the reasons the youths are lured into crime is the lack of opportunity for gainful employment or trade.
The forum, however, noted that despite the challenges of insecurity, Igboland has in the last couple of years, witnessed some development in infrastructural strides and resolved to show appreciation to all individuals, groups or government that contributed to the peace, unity and development of Igboland and the Igbo nation at large. Specifically, the forum commended the good works of Senator Bola Tinubu, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, in ensuring the completion and commissioning of the Second Niger Bridge and for other infrastructure development efforts of the Federal Government across Igboland, together with several federal appointments given to deserving Igbo sons and daughters. The meeting also thanked the Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, for his support in hosting the meeting of the forum twice but agreed that henceforth, the forum will rotate its meeting among all Igbo speaking states.
Earlier in his welcome and address, the chairman of the forum, Eze Cletus I. Ilomuanya, CON, said that the forum was formed to work for the good of Ndigbo, and indeed, the entire Nigerian nation through proper and effective liaison with governments at both the national and subnational levels.
Over 40 traditional rulers from six Igbo states – Abia, Anambra, Imo, Enugu, Ebonyi, Rivers and Delta, attended the meeting.