South-East governors have rejected IPOB Leader, Nnamdi Kanu‘s launching of the Eastern Security Network (ESN) to protect the zone.
Kanu had said that the security network became necessary due to the failure of the governors to protect their people against avoidable attacks from Fulani herdsmen and other marauders.
He further described the governors as “cowardly” in comparison to their South-West counterparts, who launched Amotekun Corps to protect their zone.
Reacting, Chairman of South-East Governors Forum and Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, said the zone did not need Kanu’s security network, describing the initiative as “laughable”.
Read Also: UN Chief, Guterres Lauds FG’s Swift Action on Kankara School Boys
He said that the South-East remained the safest geopolitical zone in Nigeria.
Umahi spoke in an interaction with journalists in Abakaliki on Friday, urging Ndigbo to ignore the Eastern Security Network.
According to him, South-East governors are doing everything within their power to secure the zone.
He warned that the governors would not fold their arms and allow Kanu to cause mayhem with the security network.
Umahi also berated youths that allowed themselves to be used for the destruction of lives and property.
“Our region remains the safest and nobody can controvert this. And so, our brother said he has formed security outfit for the southeast. It is very laughable and should be totally ignored.
“I commend very highly the Southeast Governors. It is only in the Southeast that the leaders are being castigated openly.
“It is the duty of the Governors to protect the lives of the citizens and also the citizens of other regions living in their states that are not from Southeast. I want them to ignore the side distractions.
“We are doing a lot in education of our people, payment of salaries, infrastructure development and most especially the security of our people.
“No Governor will come openly to tell you A to Z what he is doing about security. But I want it to be debated whether Southeast is not the safest in the country.
“We need to warn that our youths should desist from being engaged for the destruction of lives and property. During the #EndSARS, this happened in all the states of the Southeast.
“The Governors of Southeast will no longer tolerate that. We continue to keep our eyes on the ball to ensure that anybody living under our care is protected”