Vice President Kashim Shettima has declared support for the adoption of a non-kinetic approach to tackling insecurity in the South-East, in addition to other initiatives already being implemented.
Mr Shettima stated this on Tuesday when he received a delegation led by the deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, on a courtesy visit to the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The delegation, under the auspices of the “Peace In South-East Project (PISE-P)”, visited Mr Shettima to present the initiative and invite him to the inauguration of the project that proposes a non-kinetic solution to the crisis in the region.
The vice president, who endorsed the concept, noted that the “approach was the most beautiful I have seen so far.”
Mr Shettima explained the wisdom in adopting a non-kinetic approach to address the security situation in the South-East, saying it would save the region from endless war.
“Unless we want to engage in an endless war of attrition, a non-kinetic solution to the crisis in the South-East must be explored and deployed.
“The most atrocious of wars are, at the end of the day, sorted out on the negotiating table. It is how you build bridges that will determine how far you go as a people and society.
“We have to reach out to the youths; we have to empower them. Once we empower them, the crisis, the agitation, and insecurity will vanish,” he stated.
Earlier, Mr Kalu reiterated the call for a non-kinetic approach to addressing the region’s security challenges.
“We understand that many zones in the country face similar security challenges. However, PISE-P proposes a non-kinetic approach to address these issues that have impacted the economy of the South East and Nigeria,” he stated.
Mr Kalu stressed the urgency of finding solutions, saying, “We cannot ignore these challenges; we must face them head-on. The current situation has severely affected our lives and our sense of unity.”
He expressed hope that a non-kinetic approach, focusing on changing the narrative and reorienting the people’s minds, can be more effective.
Members of the delegation include Reps. Leko Gambo, Jonathan Ukodhiko, Ibori-Suenu Erhiatake, Bukar Talba, and Emeka Wogu, former Minister of Labour and Productivity, and others.
