Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, said on Tuesday that he supported the adoption of non-kinetic mechanisms to tackle insecurity in Nigeria’s South East.
“The approach is the most beautiful I have seen so far. We need to build bridges; there is a need for a handshake; that way, those that have not been radicalised can be captured”, the Vice President stated when he received a delegation led by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, on a courtesy visit to the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Publicity, Stanley Nkwocha, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday titled ‘VP Shettima supports a non-kinetic approach to insecurity in the South East’.
The delegation, under the auspices of the Peace In South East Project, visited the VP to present the initiative and invite him to the launch of the project that proposes a non-kinetic solution to the crisis in the South East region.
Since 2012, insecurity in Nigeria’s South East, where the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) are most active, has become increasingly complex and multifaceted as the region continues to see a rise in unrest and conflict in recent years.
The increased unrest is partly attributed to the activities of IPOB and its militant wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), which was established to combat criminality and protect the local population from perceived threats.
ESN’s operations have led to clashes with Nigerian security forces, resulting in casualties and further instability.
Speaking after a brief introduction of the new initiative to restore stability in the region, the Vice President endorsed the concept, describing it as the most beautiful he has seen so far.
He further explained the wisdom of adopting a non-kinetic approach to addressing the security situation in the South East, saying it would save the region from endless war.
Shettima stated, “Unless we want to engage in an endless war of attrition, a non-kinetic solution to the crisis in the South East must be explored and deployed.
“The most atrocious of wars are, at the end of the day, sorted out on the negotiation table.
“It is how you build bridges that will determine how far you go as a people and society. We have to reach out to the youth; we have to empower them. Once we empower them, the crisis, the agitation, and the insecurity will vanish”.
Earlier in his address, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Kalu, reiterated the call for a non-kinetic approach to addressing the security challenges facing the Southeast region.
“We understand that many zones in the country face similar security challenges”, he said.
“However, PISE-P proposes a non-kinetic approach to address these issues that have impacted the economies of the South and Nigeria”, said Kalu.
He stressed the urgency of finding solutions, just as he said, “We cannot ignore these challenges; we must face them head-on. The current situation has severely affected our lives and our sense of unity”.
Kalu expressed optimism that the project could bring hope to the region, similar to how other parts of the country have seen improvement.
He emphasised the need for new solutions, acknowledging that past approaches have not yielded the desired results.
The lawmaker highlighted the importance of addressing the sociological factors contributing to the unrest, expressing the belief that a non-kinetic approach, focusing on changing the narrative and reorienting the minds of the people, can be more effective.
“We want to start a conversation that helps change the perception and mindset in the South East,” he explained, adding that “this cannot be achieved through guns and violence”.
Therefore, he emphasised the need for initiatives that foster a sense of belonging and inclusion, even as he acknowledged the government’s limitations and stressed the importance of collaborating with development partners under the Peace in the South East Project.
Members of the delegation included members representing Dass/Bogoro/Tafawa Federal Constituency of Bauchi State, Leko Gambo; member representing Isoko North/South Federal Constituency of Delta State, Jonathan Ukodhiko; member representing Ethiope East/Ethiope West Federal Constituency of Delta State, Ibori-Suenu Erhiatake; and member representing the Monguno/Nganzai /Marte Federal Constituency of Borno State, Hon. Bukar Talba.
Others are the former Minister of Labour and Productivity, Emeka Wogu, the Chief of Staff to the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Toby Okechukwu, and Mr Elton Onwu.
