Presidential aide, Femi Adesina has praised Labour minister, Senator Chris Ngige for frontally tackling the alleged menace posed by the IPOB/ESN when many other South-East leaders were still “cowering under their beds” in fear.
Adesina, who is the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, heaped praises on the former Anambra governor in the latest installment of his weekly column: ‘From The Inside’.
The presidential media aide referred to an interview Ngige granted ‘NewsNight’, a Channels Television programme anchored by Ladi Akeredolu Ale last week.
He described the interview as ‘Sermon on the Mountain’, saying Ngige’s performance was bold, frank, forthright, and something to be highly commended.
“The medical doctor-turned-politician and now Conciliator General of the Federation parried no question. He answered them all. And most important was that he spoke boldly about the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Eastern Security Network (ESN) at a time most leaders of thought and people of influence in the region were still calling them ‘Unknown Gunmen,’ cowering under their beds, afraid of speaking the truth to a rebellion gone awry,” Adesina wrote.
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The presidential aide said Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi was “the first person I recall who spoke boldly about IPOB/ESN”.
“Another person who came boldly to sue for peace was former Abia State Governor, Orji Uzo Kalu. He urged the young men to sheathe their swords and stop the self- immolation spree they were embarking on.
“Some other interest groups issued statements that were tepid, neither here nor there, while others spoke from both sides of the mouth. It was obvious that they didn’t want to condemn the secessionist group, lest they become targets themselves. The group seemed impudent and irreverent enough to confront anybody.
“But Ngige came out smoking, calling a spade a spade. He held nothing back, firing from the hips, asking for no quarter, and getting none. I was, therefore, not surprised when some days later, Governors of all the States in the South East came out as one body, denouncing secession, and expressing faith in a united Nigeria. Ngige and some few others before him had shone the light, and people were finding the way.”
He recounted Ngige’s answers to questions bordering on insecurity in the country, alleged marginalisation of the South-East and state of the economy.
“Then to the big elephant in the room. Secessionist agitation by IPOB and its military wing, the ESN,” Adesina wrote.
“The Minister said he was sorry for them, particularly as someone who was a soldier, and saw action during the Nigeria/Biafra Civil War.”
Adesina quoted Ngige as saying: “When I see those gathering Ak-47 from slain policemen to fight a separatist war, I laugh. MASSOB was non-violent. IPOB also broke off from MASSOB and was non-violent initially. There’s nothing wrong with referendum to determine where you want to be, as people would vote. But to want to use force, attack police stations, kill policemen, burn INEC facilities and correctional centers, you are only putting people in harm’s way. It is not good.
“Terming everybody in South East as IPOB member is not good for investment and business. Before this government came in 2015, bomb explosions were going off everywhere, including in Abuja. Boko Haram was everywhere, before they were chased out and confined to the North East. The government has done so well.”