The recent surge in attacks by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in Enugu State, following the lifting of the Sit-at-home order by Governor Peter Mbah, has been attributed to the new governor’s lack of preparedness and leadership skills.
According to the Oriental Lawyers for Justice (OLJ), a civil society organization based in Enugu, the deteriorating security situation has witnessed several kidnappings in the capital city and an attack on the New Haven station of Pinnacle Oil and Gas Company, owned by the governor. The OLJ stated that these incidents highlight the governor’s inability to provide strong leadership and steer the state in the right direction.
The OLJ argued that if Governor Mbah had prepared himself adequately for high office, he would have learned from the experience of Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State. Soludo’s announcement of a crackdown on so-called freedom fighters in the state resulted in an unprecedented rise in attacks by IPOB members, including the bombing of government facilities.
The OLJ claimed that the attack on Mbah’s private petroleum firm was orchestrated by IPOB, evident from the large number of armed perpetrators who arrived in tricycles and donned the red headbands associated with IPOB’s military wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN). The organization further stated that Mbah’s actions against IPOB, including his cancellation of the stay-at-home order, made him a target for the group.
The lawyers also highlighted the mockery directed at Governor Mbah by Simeon Ekpa, a top IPOB leader based in Finland, who questioned the legitimacy of Mbah’s leadership due to his electoral defeat.
The OLJ criticized Mbah for lifting the stay-at-home order without ensuring adequate security forces on the ground and without constituting his cabinet. They argued that tackling profound insecurity requires a collaborative effort and cannot be a one-man show.
The organization noted that Mbah had only appointed the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Chidiebere Onyia, and had not formed a complete administration before announcing the end of the order. They emphasized the importance of consulting stakeholders such as traders, transporters, religious leaders, traditional rulers, students, and town union officers to effectively implement such decisions.
The lawyers concluded that Mbah was portrayed beyond his actual capabilities by his handlers, who focused on his personal wealth and grand promises to boost Enugu’s economy without providing a clear plan for achieving those goals.
While expressing their opposition to IPOB’s violence and illegal activities, the lawyers criticized Mbah for mishandling the situation and stated that he would have acted differently if he had genuinely won the gubernatorial election, rather than resorting to knee-jerk reactions in an attempt to gain acceptance from the Enugu people who rejected him and his party in the 2023 elections.
