Former Minister of State for Labour, Festus Keyamo SAN has said that the political elite from the South-East geopolitical zone have not been vocal in criticising killings and dehumanisations in the zone to avoid being attacked by the perpetrators.
He said this in a tweet on Tuesday.
Killings of innocent people by unknown gunmen in the South-East have been on the increase in recent times.
Recent videos circulating on social media also show the assailants harassing hapless citizens, including flogging pupils and a teacher at a primary school for flouting a sit-at-home declared in the zone by Simon Ekpa of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Keyamo said that the said elites should not be criticised for choosing to stay silent in the face of killings and harassment since speaking out could put them and their loved ones in danger.
“I think it is time to call a spade, a spade: the simple reason the elites in the South East are finding it difficult to speak out against those killing and dehumanising their own people in the East is the fear of reprisal attacks against their own properties and family members back home by these ‘unknown gunmen’.
“I have spoken to my friends privately and they have admitted this much. Let’s not put unnecessary pressure on these elites. It’s a difficult situation for them. Their silence does not mean support for what is happening there. It is the responsibility of the federal government to restore law and order in all parts of the country and this I am ABSOLUTELY certain the government of @officialABAT will do. Besides, we cannot isolate a region and its elites in a country where we see ourselves as one. It is our collective responsibility to assist the FG in restoring order nationwide.
“The only thing I ask is that these same elites must either now be silent or totally support the efforts of the federal government (be it military or otherwise) in restoring order to that region. When they initially kicked against operation ‘PYTHON DANCE’ in the East, little did they know that the situation would degenerate to this level of savagery. Now, they know,” Keyamo said.