Former Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Mike Okiro, has said insecurity in Igboland will be nipped in the bud if elected as Ohanaeze’s president.
Speaking ahead of Friday’s election by the General Assembly, Okiro hinged his submission on his wealth of experience, leadership qualities, and orientation on inclusivity, adding that he is the most qualified person among the other three contenders to address Ndigbo’s peculiar needs.
The former Inspector General of Police (IGP) also expressed his readiness to use his contacts to mitigate the security challenges in the Southeast today.
He added that his robust plans to promote the culture, economy, security, and other aspirations will help his cause to restore order to the region.
“As a retired IGP and former Chairman of the Police Service Commission, I will harness my contacts and collaborate with people and government throughout Nigeria to give quality leadership to Ohanaeze.
“I will utilise the same to address the security and socio-cultural needs of Ndigbo around the world. You will recall that as IGP, I played a major role in the establishment of the Amnesty programme that restored peace in the Niger Delta during the tenure of President Umaru Yar’Adua. That enabled companies to go about their businesses and propelled a major leap in oil production and the resources available to state and federal governments.”
He vowed to collaborate with elders and stakeholders in the South-East to make his dreams come true.
He added, “I will collaborate with all stakeholders to bring stability to the South-East. I have the necessary education, skills, strategies, and experience to mitigate the security challenges we are having in the South-East today.”
On the issues concerning his state of origin, Okiro said: “I can tell you without mincing words that I am from Rivers State. People should differentiate between Ohaji-Egbema in Imo State and Ogba/Egbema/Udoni in Rivers State. I want to say clearly that I am from Rivers State. You can check my records,” he said.
Okiro pointed out that his university background, where he once operated as Treasurer, speaks volumes about his love for equity, hard work, and accountability.
“Even while I was in school up to the university level, the records are there. Some of my schoolmates can attest to this. At the University of Ibadan, now in Oyo State, one of my mates is Andrew Uchendu, who later became a Senator of the Federal Republic.
“We met at the University of Ibadan in 1974, where we both served as executive members of the National Union of Rivers’ State Students. I was the Treasurer while Andrew was the General Secretary. Late F.J. Kuruye was the chairman,” he added.
