South East APC Faults Imo Govt’s Alleged Plan To Introduce ID Cards For Northerners

The South East chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has urged the Imo State governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, to rescind his decision to issue identity cards to northerners resident in the state.

There are speculations that the APC-led administration in Imo is mulling the introduction of an identity card scheme for northerners residing in the South East state. The plan comes on the heels of the discovery of Improvised Explosive Devices, IEDs, planted in the premises of a popular Pentecostal church in Owerri, the Imo State capital some few weeks ago.

Gov. Okorocha, who is a member of the APC, has neither confirmed nor denied the plan.

The south-east chapter of the party, however, described the plan as “unconstitutional and undemocratic”.

“Whereas we condemn the devilish and heinous atrocities of the deranged Boko Haram elements; we are of the candid view that the Boko Haram elements are not playing northern script, as their agenda is more or less opaque and futile”, the APC said in a statement by its South-East zonal spokesperson, Osita Okechukwu.

“We cannot easily forget that Boko Haram killed General Mohammed Shuwa, uncountable Northerners and nearly assassinated the Shehu of Borno. Reports indicate that the Emir of Kano did not recover fully from the trauma he suffered in their hands before his death.

“Any attempt to segregate Nigerians like in Nazi Germany will be the greatest disservice to our dear country and to do so will either by omission or commission be playing into the hands of Boko Haram insurgents”.

The party said the unity, stability and harmonious relationship of Nigerian citizens was paramount and fundamental and that it would not subscribe to a situation where Ndigbo residing in other parts of the country would be subjected to screening and carrying identity cards.

It stated, “APC South East maintains that the only way to crush Boko Haram insurgents is a well-equipped Army, security agencies, vigilantes and improved welfare of the citizenry that engender hope, trust and confidence”.

The party also “urged the security agencies to expedite action on the screening of those Nigerians arrested in Abia State so as to separate the wheat from the chaff”.