Many south easterners are yet to come to terms on what actually transpired and changed the mindset of South East Governors Forum to suddenly after informing citizens of plans to float regional security outfit, dump the process for Federal Government-controlled community policing.
Earlier in the week, after their meeting in Enugu, the chairman of the forum, and governor of Ebonyi State, Chief Dave Umahi had addressed the press, saying the region is working on a security outfit which is yet to be code-named.
However, rising from the IGP security summit, South East governors embrace FG’s community policing and jettisoned the planned outfit.
The policy summersault has forced several political analysts in the zone to begin to weigh lots of conspiracy theories including the possibility of trading the security outfit with 2023 presidency.
Already, some political watchers are of the view that considering the heated exchange of words between the framers of Amotekun in the South West and leading northern groups including the CNG, there are strong indications that an understanding that may see massive support for Igbo presidency come 2023 emerging.
Besides, the communiqué did not clearly indicate total dumping of the regional security outfit but displayed a strange body language that suggests suspension and total alliance with the Federal Government’s Community Policing architecture.
Chief Umahi, who spoke in Enugu at the Southeast security summit organised by Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Adamu, in the communiqué said they would not key into any security arrangement that does not take into consideration the peculiar needs of the zone, stressing that the region would embrace the Federal Government’s community policing as an effective tool of protecting the communities.
He added that traditional rulers, community leaders and town union executives would be charged with the responsibility of selecting those who would serve in the community policing, stating that it would make it more effective.
He pledged that the governors of the zone would take full responsibility of providing security equipment and facilities for the community policing in their respective states, adding that they would work in synergy with the police in the region.
Earlier, in his keynote address, IGP Mohammed charged the zone to embrace government’s community policing strategy, stressing that it was key in solving current security challenges in the country.
