Vice-President Kashim Shettima
says some forces exploiting insecurity in the south-east for dangerous
political agenda.
Shettima spoke on Friday, in
Bende, Abia state, during the unveiling of the Peace in South East Project
(PISE-P) by Benjamin Kalu, deputy speaker of the house of representatives.
According to Shettima, President
Bola Tinubu has been worried about the economic devastation inflicted on the
south-east by non-state actors since he assumed office.
He said the president is
determined to deploy all available resources to eliminate the purveyors of
falsehoods and propaganda that have become weapons against Nigeria’s unity.
Before the unveiling ceremony,
Tinubu was conferred with the traditional title of Omeziri Igbo 1 at the grand
civic reception held in honour of the deputy speaker.
Shettima, who received the title
on behalf of the president, was also conferred with the traditional title of
Enyioma Ndigbo by Linus Mbah, chairman of the Abia state council of traditional
rulers.
“His Excellency, President Bola
Ahmed Tinubu, has been concerned about the extensive economic devastation
inflicted by non-state actors on this beautiful region since we took office,”
Shettima said.
“He is acutely aware that our commitment to
Nigeria’s future remains incomplete as long as we grapple with the sinister operations
of economic saboteurs who masquerade as advocates for the Ndi-Igbo.
“That’s why he’s determined to
utilize all available resources to ensure that the peace we’re establishing in
this region is not cosmetic, and we can’t guarantee it unless all of us see
through the falsehoods and propaganda that have become weapons against our
unity.”
Shettima noted that the gory
activities of the criminals holding the south-east captive are self-serving and
do not in any way represent the interests of Ndi-Igbo and the entire country.
“The problem we are here to solve
as a community, as an Umunna, is a creation of self-serving criminals who do
not represent the interests of the Ndi-Igbo and Nigerians,” he added.
“Mr President knows this better than all of
us, and that’s why he has never held any group accountable for the infractions
of law-breaking individuals who identify as their members. This, I believe, is
the democracy we have all chosen.”
Pointing out that the criminals
disrupting the peace in the region are doing so in connivance with “forces
exploiting the situation for dangerous political agenda,” Shettima said
attempts to undo the hard work of the nation’s heroes past will fail.
He noted that the “catastrophic
situation” cannot be reversed unless the government involves the people whom he
said are the ears, legs and mouths in the region.
“Today, we stand united to firmly
declare: enough is enough,” Shettima said.
The VP noted the need for a
coordinated intervention to tackle insecurity in the region head-on, assuring
the south-east people that the Tinubu administration “shall not rest until it
fulfills its pledge to mitigate the crisis” it inherited.
Noting that no better visionary
can save the nation from implosion than Tinubu, he said the development agenda
of the federal government in the south-east will continue to elude the region
if “the intricate web of security challenges” the Tinubu-led administration
inherited is not contained.
“The seeds of progress can only sprout in the
fertile soil of peace and security. This is why we take immense pride in the
collaboration of all stakeholders and initiatives such as the Peace in South
East Project, to ensure that the shield of security in the region isn’t a
distant mirage in the landscape of aspirations,” Shettima said.
Shettima commended Kalu for his
efforts to restore lasting peace in the south-east.
‘PISE-P AIMED AT FOSTERING PEACE’
Speaking earlier, Kalu said his
goal for initiating PISE-P was to foster peace, unity, and development in the
region.
He said the project also aims at
promoting reconciliation among communities and individuals affected by past
conflicts.
“When I embarked on the
south-east project, my vision was clear — to foster peace, unity, and
development in our region through a non-kinetic approach,” Kalu said.
“The south-east has long been
known for its rich cultural heritage, vibrant communities, and enterprising
people. Yet, we have faced our fair share of challenges, including
socioeconomic disparities, insecurities, political tensions, and occasional
conflicts.
“Our goals in the south-east
project are clear. We aim to promote reconciliation among communities and
individuals affected by past conflicts.
“We recognize the need to address
the root causes of conflict, including socio-economic disparities and political
tensions.
“Empowering communities is
another crucial goal of the project, providing them with the necessary
resources, skills, and opportunities for sustainable development.”
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Is it not funny that government agents are leaving the deadly insecurity in plateau State and talking about the peace in Abia. It is only hypocrites that we clap hands for. Shettima is VP today but he has never told Nigerians what Kabiru Sokoto was doing at his backyard years ago. Only hypocrites!
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