By Chigozie Uzosike
The Imo State Labour Party aspirant, Major General Lincoln Ogunewe (Retired) has said that in combating insecurity in the land, no amount of of sacrifice will be too much.
Speaking to newsmen in Owerri, the security expert, Ogunewe noted that the South East that houses Ndigbo is the least in terms of population according to available data.
He said “Killings depopulate a race, adding that the unwonted killing of our sons and daughters is depopulating the Igbo race, insisting that the madness must stop no matter the provocation. Ogunewe posited that the costliest commodity in Ala Igbo today is security.
Speaking on his plan to end insecurity in Imo State if he becomes the governor of Imo State, he said, “This is my area and expertise. I have the training, experience and contact having served in command, staff, intelligence and diplomatic duties while in the military for over 35 years. My motivation for my aspiration to run for governorship in Imo State is to end the insecurity in the State and create a conducive environment for development. I will unify all the opposing/contending forces in the State as I don’t belong to any”.
“I will engage the people, especially the youths. I understand the strategy and tactics of security operations better than any gubernatorial aspirant and will work with the Military, Police and other Security Agencies in adopting non kinetic operations in ending the insecurity in Imo State for other states in the South East to emulate.
He insisted that arrogance, threats, guns and bullet would rather exacerbate than end the insecurity in Ala Igbo, stressing that he has a commanding understanding of the National security architecture, National Defence Policy and National Security Policy, saying he knows how to apply these tools in conflict resolution.
“The insecurity in Ala Igbo is not propelled by any extreme ideological views or beliefs and so, can easily be resolved through established conflict resolution mechanism, adding that he had in the recent past commented on state funded security outfits and the LGA administration system. He stated the criteria state funded security outfits must meet in order to gain the people’s support and confidence. He reiterated that State funded security outfits which fail to meet these criteria should be called what it represents, a militia group whose motive is to kill, destroy and maim.
Hear the security expert, “LGAs constitute the first tier of our security architecture and will operate optimally if granted autonomy because they are closer to the people. The insecurity is much worse in the LGAs than the cities”.
He asserted that no amount of sacrifice will be too much to be made in ending insecurity in the land, adding that he will lead in making sacrifices that will unite Ndi Imo in ending the insecurity that is gradually consuming the State as a people.
