The Chairman of the South-East Governors’ Forum and the Governor Ebonyi State, David Umahi, has expressed serious concerns over the proliferation of small arms in the country.
This assertion came as Umahi was setting up a 10-man committee to work in consonance with the National Taskforce in the state in order to set the stage for the enlistment of over 4,000 residents of the state, into the commission.
The governor expressed the concern while receiving the Director-General of the National Taskforce/Commission on Proliferation of Small Arms and Ammunition, Baba Muhammed, and his team in Abakaliki, on Monday.
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While commending President Muhammadu Buhari, Umahi noted members of the National Assembly acted with the voice of reason and wisdom in setting up the task force.
Umahi said, ‘I commend the President, National Assembly people for the Initiative. The level of arms in society is so terrible.
‘I think you would also turn your eyes to the borders and then these locally manufactured weapons. So, this will work and it will be very helpful.’
The governor further advocated for the reinvigoration of the federal character principle in the allocation of positions in the country, adding that such would help reduce tension and agitations.
He added, ‘I will continue to say that we have Federal character and nobody should shy away from saying that.
‘Those who intentionally exclude South-East from the affairs of the Nation should remember that it must not end the way they wish it.
‘We should try to be fair in this country if we say that we are brothers and sisters.’
Africa Daily News, New York recalls that Umahi was one of the aspirants that contested the Presidential primaries of the APC in the race to 2023.
