The maiden South East Regional Security Summit met in Umuahia to address issues of concern, writes JOSHUA OCHEJA
I was in Umuahia in Abia State these past few days for the first time. I experienced something different and unique. The people, the weather, and the food were pleasant. But what took me there was beyond these. It was the security of the South East region. What were the issues, and what were the best ways of addressing the security situation in the region? The maiden South East Regional Security Summit, organized by the Ministry of Defence in collaboration with the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (South East), provided a platform for this conversation, and the International Conference Centre in Umuahia came to life with the array of A-list guests that graced the occasion with their accoutrements, experiences, and commitment.
I think South Easterners are genuinely interested in addressing the security situation in the region. Mention a heavyweight name in the five states in the region within the security and political class, and I will tell you he or she was present at the summit. Yes, it was called a summit. But in my estimation, it was beyond a summit. It was a gathering of a people who felt that enough was enough and that the solution to the security challenges in the region was local, and therefore the solution was also local. This necessitated the theme “Collaborative Approaches to Strengthening Regional Security and Stability” and, indeed, at the end of the summit, the anthem was the “Whole of Society Approach” to achieving sustainable peace and prosperity in the South East region.
