On Saturday, July 10, 2010 I moderated a meeting of human rights and pro democracy activists in Igbo land. Almost anyone who matters on human rights and pro democracy in Nigeria was there, including some of the progressive political and church leaders in Igbo land.

The objective of the meeting was to understand how Igbo land had been reduced to a failed territory and how our Nigerian compatriots now believe that they can take us for granted.

Discussion at the meeting soon turned to the grave insecurity and criminality in Igbo states, especially Abia State. The meeting ended on the consensus that the insecurity in Igbo land marked by incessant kidnapping is a product of the criminalization of governance in the region.

Before this set of political leaders emerged through elections marred by mal practices and won by  the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Southeast was the most peaceful territory in Nigeria. But something happened between 1999, when an APGA victory in Igbo states was upstaged by PDP operatives, and 2010.

What happened is the swift and comprehensive erosion of traditional and modern values and ideals of accountable governance in the Southeast. A new form of leadership emerged in the land of Azikiwe, Okpara and Mbakwe- ill-educated, swashbuckling and imperial.

Nigeria is fast becoming a criminal state where the art of governance is actually the act of plundering.

The only difference between Nigeria and Narco States is that the leaders of Nigeria are not engaged in obvious crimes that involve third party interests outside its territory. Nigeria is a law-abiding country that is ready to enact every law that the UN requires. So no one cares about the criminality in the country.

So, some of  the rulers are left alone to steal and destroy the lives of thousands daily.

But southeast has a special pedigree in the criminalization of governance. That small territory easily boasts the highest concentration of certified 419 and  roguish persons in political leadership in Nigeria.

The saddest part is that our traditional institution has also been taken over by 419 kingpins. Southwest and the north have their own criminals in power. But the southeast far outnumbers them. We can count by the fingers Governors and legislators in Igbo land who are not criminals in power.

The other thing about these criminals in power that has made kidnapping a nightmare in Igbo land is that they have suppressed opposition and have used allocations meant for development of their states to buy off those who could say enough is enough. Igbo land is like a graveyard. Achebe would be wondering how the fiery fire begets a cold impotent ash.

How did a republican people end up as chorus singers and cheerleaders of dictator Governors?

Criminalization of governance is a Nigerian problem. But in Igbo land it has a disproportionate impact. The reason should be obvious in the light of Igbo mercantilism and entrepreneurship. In other parts of Nigeria the criminal state elicits either random violence or servitude.

In Igbo land it elicits criminal entrepreneurship. If the Governors have captured the public resources through brigandage, those they have used will assert their right to also make good through coordinated terrorism. What one man can do another can do even better.

This egalitarianism mixes with entrepreneurial skills and greed to create the security nightmare that has tasked the fragile police power of the Nigerian state. Now you know how kidnaping that started in South –south has become a smart industry in Igbo land.

There is another dimension to this kidnaping business in Igbo land. Igbo human rights and democracy activists fault the invasion of Igbo land by police and military forces and the extortion and brutalization of Igbo people in the guise of fighting kidnapping.

They demand that the checkpoints and barricade be removed immediately and the police use community based intelligence to stop kidnaping instead of the present military expedition.

As if the kidnappers heard them, two days after the summit, they kidnapped three journalists. This has set the southeast on fire. President Goodluck Jonathan has ordered that these journalists be released immediately. The Inspector General of Police swung to action and gave 24hrs deadline for the kidnappers to surrender.

The terror entrepreneurs are still demanding N250million to release their captives. In desperation the Governors of southeast, the authors of the state of anarchy in Igbo land, threatened to dethrone any traditional ruler in which
domain a kidnapping takes place (let’s hope one of them is not holding the journalists).

In further desperation the Senate President has called for declaration of a state of emergency in Abia State. Before you read this Interpol and MOSSAD would be combing every corner of God’s Own State.

As this debacle plays out, the PDP is receiving Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, back to its fold. While receiving Orji Kalu back to the PDP, newly appointed chairman of PDP, Dr. Nwodo, euphorically declared that the return of favorite son, Orji Kalu, is the greatest political event in Nigeria this year.

Oh my God! Dr. Kalu   Orji Kalu abandoned PDP,and  created a political party  He could not manage his Governors and they decamped to PDP and APGA. This Orji Kalu, beleaguered   beats a return to PDP.

The irony should not be lost that the man who once ruled this   criminal state is welcomed back to PDP by a self-acclaimed reformer, Dr. Nwodo. The bush has received its own. PDP, is no longer the killers’ nest (no significant killing has happened after the failure of the Third Term Agenda) but it is still harbouring some    gangsters.

Need I say that the answer to the criminal enterprise in Igbo land is not ruthless police work as the IGP and the Governors want us to believe? It is also not the state of emergency that Senator David Mark wants declared in Abia State.

The answer is another state of emergency that the summit of Igbo human rights activists agrees to execute. A revolutionary state of emergency that cleans the land of the locusts that besieged it since 1999 is the answer.

2011 is a perfect opportunity for the people of southeast to declare a state of emergency in the land and end the criminalization of governance that has ruined enterprise and dignity in Igbo land.

The summit of human rights and democracy activists vowed to fight the internal colonizers in 2011 and deliver Igbo land from criminal anarchy and destitution.
We should not fail on this charge.

The activists in MASSOB should see the silver lining in this gathering storm. They should provide the militancy to end the criminal leadership in Igbo land.

With words and militancy the state of emergency will end in recovery and restoration of the dignified enterprise and republicanism of Ndigbo. It is in their own interest to do this. After all, before you win a republic you must win a territory that is safe and secured.

Dr. Sam Amadi,Abuja, Nigeria