How Kanu, IPOB hijacked ESN from Igbo govs – Uzodinma

Chidi Samuel| Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State on Friday explained how the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra and its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, hijacked the Eastern Security Network, an initiative of the governors of the South-East States.

The governor, who made the disclosure when he met with journalists in Owerri over the weekend, however, revealed that governors have concluded arrangements to meet in Owerri, the Imo State capital, to fashion modalities that would birth a security outfit for the region.

According to Uzodinma, the South-East governors had agreed and put in place modalities to establish ESN but Kanu, IPOB hijacked the name of the outfit and using ESN operatives to cause mayhem in the region.

“The governors will not want to be a copycat, especially with the pressure put on us after the formation of Amotekun by the South-West governors, he said.

“In the next couple of weeks, governors of the South-East will hold a security summit in Owerri with a view to fashioning out modalities for setting up a security outfit for our region. We will hold an elaborate discussion with a view to finding a lasting solution and to complement the work of security agents in the country.

“It is necessary for every zone to be vigilant and have a security outfit, especially with the present situation we have in this country. We cannot lose fate with the management of security in our region and at the same time, we must be careful in the way we go about it.

“South-East governors tried to set up the Eastern Security Network by working with Ohanaeze Ndigbo. The attorneys-general of the five South-Eastern states have already anchored a report on it and before we know it, IPOB hijacked the name and started using it to commit crime.

“That arrangement has not stopped. We are trying to take a review. We will come up with an outfit that will be lasting. We don’t want to do things because others have done it or be copycats. There are permutations and we must defend our people and ensure that there is no external aggression.

“It is not failure of government because the primary responsibility of government is to protect the lives and property of the people.”