Southern Kaduna: Lekwot’s statement unfair to military – Indigenous group

Some indigenous Southern Kaduna group under the aegis of Coalition of Southern Kaduna Peace Practitioner (SOKIPEP), has rejected the statement credited to an elder statesman, Gen. Zamani Lekwot, rtd, over the crisis in the area.

Lekwot, a former Military Governor of Rivers State, in an interview condemn the recent position of the Commander of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), Maj-Gen Chukwuemeka Okonkwo, to the effect that both sides in the Southern Kaduna crisis were involved in the cycle of attacks and isolated killings.

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Lekwot had accused the OPSH Commander as not being neutral in the crisis, saying: “As professionals, security people are supposed to be neutral in everything, to inculcate confidence in the people.”

But SOKIPEP, in a statement on Tuesday said the statement of an elder statesman, who is also their illustrious son, was not only unpatriotic to the country but also unfair to the Nigerian Military.

The organization’s National Coordinator, Rev. (Dr) Dauda Fadia, insisted that Gen. Lekwot’s statement was misleading and a blatant disregard for fairness and justice in the crisis that has seen many lives and property worth several millions of naira lost.

“The statement credited to one of our illustrious sons, Gen. Zamani Lekwot, accusing Operation Safe Haven of taking side in the ongoing crisis in Southern Kaduna is unfortunate.

“The said statement by our revered statesman is not only misleading but also a blatant disregard to the efforts of the military which is sacrificing a lot to end the ugly trend.

“While not holding brief for the military, as genuine peace lovers, we feel that we have a place in history to speak out even if it doesn’t favour our interest,” Fadia said.

He added that they have a strong respect for the elder statesman, but strongly condemn his statement as they see it as unpatriotic and unfair to the military who are doing everything possible to restore peace in the area.