The South East Governors Forum have rejected the demand by the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN) for the establishment of a vigilante group in the southeast to protect their members.
MACBAN has made the proposal during the Southeast Security Summit in Enugu last week.
Since the report of MACBAN’s demands last week, harsh reactions have been directed at the governors by various interest groups in the zone.
The Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi described the allegation of the governors allowing MACBAN to form vigilante groups as strange.
A statement released on Monday in Abakiliki, Ebonyi reads:
“I find it extremely strange for anybody to think that none locals in any part of the country including South East could be allowed to form vigilante outfit.
“The Miyetti Allah group may have made that suggestion, which I believe will never mean to form a vigilante in (the) South East. (Whatever) is the meaning, no governor will allow that.
“South East Governors have their local vigilantes working with security agencies. Any such demand by Miyetti group is a joke and not acceptable. Governors of South East are doing their best and we have no problems receiving insults from our people. It is the price for leadership.
“The important thing to us is the safety and well-being of our people. OPC and other pressure groups may not have found it fashionable to be insulting their leaders even when their leaders may not be saints,” the governor said.
Mr Umahi further disclosed that his task is to develop Ebonyi State and contribute in rebuilding South East and Nigeria.
“My calling is not to insult others. Have we been fairly treated? No. Can we solve the problem by hate speeches? For me, no. Nobody, no matter the level of pretence, can change my style of peaceful leadership. Ebonyi, in particular, has suffered so much, even in the context of the South East. We believe that we do not need hate speeches as a strategy to solve our problems.
Many more condemnations were also directed at the governor’s on social media with many alleging that the governors were in agreement with MACBAN on the issue.