• Seeks Navy, Air Force cooperation for better security in S’East
Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has vowed to employ any legitimate means to end practice of sit-at -home in the state.
Mbah, who noted that there are no parallel administrations in the South East, insisted that enforcers of the illegal order appear to be using any means possible to subject the people to their whims and caprices.
He stated: “Sit-at-home and its associated threat seem to be migrating to the media space. It does appear that we are now being exposed to the media terror. So, our people are increasingly being terrorised by these vagabonds, hoodlums and murderers, who believe they can sit wherever they are and dictate to us when they want us to work and take a break. They even have the temerity to tell us the number of days they want us to sit-at-home, go shopping and rest.
“Now, don’t forget that these people go on with this whole thing without our consent; we did not give them our mandate. The government can talk to you about curfews, or make pronouncements because it has your mandate; you elected the person making these pronouncements. But what we are experiencing now is that our people are being cowed and intimidated. Once you hear any noise, you would see people scampering. In fact, even those in their rooms would look for somewhere to hide. It’s something that is gradually taking over us, and we do have a duty to change the narrative.
Meanwhile, Mbah has sought the support and cooperation of the Nigerian Navy, Air Force and other security agencies towards ending insecurity in the state and the entire South East.
Mbah also said that there is no place for sit-at-home in the state under his watch, describing it as a disservice to the socio-economic prosperity.
Mbah made the appeal during a visit to the Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, and his Air Force counterpart, Air Vice Marshal Hassan Abubakar, at the Naval and Air Force Headquarters, respectively, in Abuja.
Speaking at the Naval Headquarters, Mbah said: “There is no way we would achieve economic growth if we don’t deal with that problem, tightening our security architecture, mobilising security agencies in our state to deal with it.
“Thus far, we are getting the required support from security agencies, and we are hoping to see more join hands with us to deal with this big elephant, insecurity.
“So, what we are saying, in effect, is that we are looking forward to partnering the Navy in areas that are necessary to achieve one common goal; that is to build one unified country that is peaceful and secure.”
The governor also appreciated President Bola Tinubu for appointing an Enugu indigene to head the Navy, noting that such gestures of inclusivity would promote national healing, peace and security.
