South East Security Summit: Retired General Seeks Nnamdi Kanu Pardon, Regional Police, Veterans’ Role In Tackling Insecurity | VIDEO

…Urges South East Governors to address post-war grievances, youth unemployment, displacement

President of the South East Veterans Welfare Association, Brigadier General Austin Kalu Egwuagwu, mni (Rtd.), has called for a comprehensive approach to tackling insecurity in the South East, advocating dialogue and reconciliation, greater involvement of retired security personnel, regional policing, youth mentorship and stronger traditional institutions.

Egwuagwu, who spoke at the South East Security Summit in Umuahia, Abia State, also appealed to South East governors to engage President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the possibility of granting a presidential pardon to detained Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

Speaking on the summit’s focus on collaborative approaches to strengthening security and building lasting peace, the retired Army General argued that insecurity should not be viewed solely as a law-enforcement problem, but as a challenge linked to unresolved grievances, unemployment, displacement, inequality and weakening community structures.

He thanked Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, for hosting the summit and said stakeholders must confront difficult issues if lasting peace is to be achieved in the region.

Egwuagwu argued that some grievances dating back to the Nigerian Civil War remained unresolved and should be addressed through dialogue and reconciliation.

Drawing from his family’s experience after the war, he recalled how his father was deeply affected by the post-war financial policy under which account holders affected by the conflict received a fixed payment irrespective of their pre-war bank balances.

According to him, such experiences demonstrate why historical grievances should not simply be ignored.

He also raised concerns about young people detained in connection with security-related incidents in the South East, urging governors to facilitate proper reviews of their cases.

“Those who are not guilty should be freed because these are some of the problems we are having,” he said.

Turning to the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu, Egwuagwu appealed for a political intervention.

“On the issue of the IPOB man, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, I want to also plead with the governors. Mr. President, I know, can listen to them, to grant him presidential pardon,” he said.

He maintained that stakeholders must be prepared to openly discuss difficult subjects rather than avoiding them if genuine reconciliation and sustainable peace are to be achieved.

The retired General also called for a review of Nigeria’s federal character system, arguing that policies designed to promote national balance should periodically be reassessed to ensure that they do not undermine merit and equal opportunity.

He said prolonged frustration arising from unemployment and lack of opportunities could make vulnerable young people susceptible to crime, drug abuse and other social problems.

Egwuagwu therefore appealed to South East governors to work with the National Assembly and the Presidency toward reviewing aspects of the federal character system.

He further identified insecurity and unemployment as major factors driving young Nigerians away from their communities and, in many cases, out of the country.

Egwuagwu expressed concern about Nigerians who have remained in internally displaced persons’ camps for prolonged periods, arguing that governments must give greater attention to their resettlement and rehabilitation.

He said people displaced by erosion, communal conflicts and other crises should be assisted to return home or provided with alternative places to rebuild their lives.

According to him, safer communities would also encourage residents who have relocated to cities such as Abuja and Lagos to return and contribute to grassroots development.

Egwuagwu also advocated a stronger role for traditional rulers in intelligence gathering and community security.

He argued that traditional institutions are closest to the grassroots and should be able to identify emerging threats and pass useful intelligence to security agencies before situations escalate.

He further maintained that traditional rulers should ordinarily reside within their communities rather than permanently living elsewhere.

“The traditional rulers have a lot of role to play,” he said, adding that integrity rather than wealth should be a major consideration in selecting community leaders.