If reports in the media are anything to go by, President Muhammadu Buhari has concluded plans to visit the South-East, this time, Ebonyi State in order to commission some projects completed by the State’s Governor, Dave Umahi....CONTINUE READING THE FULL ARTICLE>>>
Ahead of the President’s planned visit, there have been insinuations from some quarters that some sections of the South-East are not happy with the planned visit of the president and plan to oppose it. Igbo elders under the aegis of the Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide have also reacted to the reports, insisting that those planning to oppose the President’s visit to Ebonyi State are incapable of doing so.
First, it is important to state that it is not possible for any section of the country to oppose or hinder Buhari’s plan to visit any part of the country that is under his jurisdiction as President of Nigeria. Any attempt by a group to do so may lead to an unwanted situation of crisis.
Those planning to oppose the President’s visit may be working against the interest of Igbos:
The South-East has been heavily militarized in recent times due to unprovoked attacks by faceless gunmen and hoodlums in the state. Some Igbo elders have, in the past, called on the Federal Government to consider demilitarizing the region because, despite the many security advantages military presence in the South-East offers, a sane society should not have military officials all over the streets. An unusual high military presence may breed uneasiness and restlessness among residents of the region.
How then would the president consider demilitarizing the region when some hoodlums are, through opposing his visit, showing that the region is not yet devoid of criminals? Isn’t it obvious that by their actions, they are trying to truncate the progress Igbo elders have made so far in discussions with the Presidency?
Secondly, since it is relatively rare for the President to visit a particular region, leaders of the region see his visit as an opportunity to table some demands before Buhari, while he also accesses infrastructural facilities in the region and note where the Federal Government can come in and assist the region. Would all these happen if Buhari’s visit is being opposed by a section of the people?
By opposing Buhari’s visit, these people are indirectly shutting the South-East from reaping the rewards of a presidential visit to the region. This, in my opinion, is against the interest of the entire South-East.