Obinna Ichita, a former member of the Abia State House of Assembly, has stated that many South-East indigenes living outside the region may choose not to return for the Christmas and New Year celebrations due to security concerns.
Ichita, who represented Aba South Constituency in the House of Assembly, challenged the leaders of the South-East to speak out against the present situation, rather than keeping quiet.
In a statement he made available journalists in Umuahia on Thursday, Ichita appealed to President Bola Tinubu to directly activate the process of releasing IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, through alternative dispute resolution mechanism.
The former Abia lawmaker, who condemned the killing of security agents and civilians in the South-East, said that the release of Kanu will not only portray the President as a unifier but make Nigeria an example of people solving their problems without external directives.
He said, “Many people have cancelled their planned trips to the East this festive season due to many incidents of kidnapping and attacks on security operatives.
“Yet the political leaders of South-East do not seem to be bothered about this security challenge in their areas of responsibility.
“Afterall, they ride B6 (or B7) ballistic proof vehicles that cost hundreds of millions of tax payers money.
“Why are the South-East leaders so quiet while their home is burning? What/who is stopping them from approaching Mr. President for a resolution of the issue?! Does anyone really believe that the President will ignore the political leaders of a geopolitical zone in the country if they approached the Commander-in-Chief on an issue that affects national security?”