Since the launch of a regional security initiative in the South West, code name Amotekun, Ndigbo have been on the Mountain of Lamentations singing and reading the Book of Lamentations. They vilify the five governors of the South East for not forming a similar one. On several platforms, commentators have engaged themselves in suggesting fanciful titles for the proposed South East regional security framework modelled after Amotekun.
Let me pour cold water on this misguided enthusiasm. It is unnecessary and lacking in strategic nous for Ndigbo to replicate Amotekun. Our people say somethings may look alike but be very different.
A big surprise for me in the lamentation series was the social media post of a spokesman of one of the South-East governors. He stated, “I love the Yoruba. They didn’t make any noise. They came together and gave us Amotekun. Chew on that!”
I chewed on it and found the suggestion contradictory and unnecessary. Please come with me.
The most recent statistics on crime across the regions showed that the South East has the least incidence of robberies and kidnappings. Data compiled by StatiSense on Insecurity in Nigeria in 2019 shows the number of kidnappings by zone. Northwest had 597 (43 percent), South-South 276 (20 percent), North Central 228 (16 percent). Others are North East 180 (13 percent), South West 86 (6 percent) and South East 20 (1 percent).
There may be issues with the integrity of the data, but it paints a picture that captures the trend reasonably accurately.
The data, supported by claims by the Nigeria Police Force, says the South East is the safest zone in Nigeria. The region has overcome armed robbery and kidnappings. It was never home for banditry.
Anambra State is one of the states to claim the prize for safety. Last year the state made heavy publicity weather of the security equipment it bought and handed over to the police and internal security operations. It continues to celebrate the successes with security that made Obinwanne 2019, otherwise known as Christmas Homecoming, such a blast in the state with several cultural events.
My understanding is that the South-East states commenced security arrangements individually. Abia State designated a Ministry of Homeland Security. They are still recruiting young people, male and female, across the state to man this new vigilante operation. Enugu State worked on Forest Guards. It promised to equip the Forest Guards and Neighbourhood Watch teams with 18 drones, among other facilities. Ebonyi State did a similar thing, as did Anambra with a very elaborate security arrangement.
The difference between the South East and South West it seems to me, therefore, is approach and terminology. SE governors chose the individual states approach, consistent with our leaning in the South East. Since the region became states, we have always approached matters this way. There is no comment here on whether it is good or bad. SW chose the collective approach.
Something exists in the South East.
Nothing says each region must follow the same approach. In matters of security, the less noise, the better.
I commend the South-West governors for identifying and crafting a framework that meets the needs of their region. They should stay focused and fix the nuts and bolts of the scheme as issues crop up. They include a lack of enthusiasm by some, claims of non-consultation by legislators etc.
Proper internal security arrangements in all our regions are essential given the experience of southern Nigeria in the last three years.
Unfortunately for our region, people do not believe the governors have done something significant in security management. This lack of awareness or distrust explains the lamentation and the calls. It also explains the fumbling even by government officials in the South East.
A high official in Ebonyi State walked the path of needless comparison and unscripted messaging while citizens debated the matter. In seeming defence of the governments of the South East, he claimed that those who boldly launched Amotekun copied the South East’s regional plan that it had not unveiled. How low can you go? How can someone copy what you have not done? The claim contradicted even his correct position that the South-East states tackled the matter individually.
South-East governors have a perception deficit that they must work hard to remedy. Mind the Gap! The gap between our governors and their citizens, at home and in the Nigerian diaspora, is vast and growing every day. It would make citizen mobilisation difficult in the days ahead when there may be such a need.
South-East governors need to communicate better. State governments and governors need to build trust. They need to win the empathy and goodwill of their citizens. It should be that the people believe in them and do not run off on emotionalism calling for a replica of a project elsewhere. Mind the gap.
Excellent communication also entails having clear messaging on matters. On matters affecting the entire region, the message should be the same from Abia through Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu to Imo.
The region has tried and tested structures for internal communication. One of those pioneered in the era of the Igbo State Union is the deployment of our towns’ unions. Then the churches and cultural associations. State governments are not communicating. On security, it is imperative to get the buy-in of communities and citizens. This way they can react in a more informed and less emotive manner to developments elsewhere such as Amotekun. The grass is not always greener on the other field.
