As mixed reactions have continued to trail the closure of Akanu Ibiam international airport Enugu for major repairs, the south East governors under the auspice of South east governors forum, wrote to the president of federal republic of Nigeria Mohammed Buhari.

In a letter signed by Engr Dave Umahi the chairman of the forum and sent to the president said: “We plead with Mr. President that we publish this letter to assuage our people’s feelings who erroneously think that no efforts are being made by the leaders of the South East to tackle insecurity and economic challenges facing the zone and to let them know that her leaders before now have been working very hard without making noise as issues of security must not be discussed in the public,”

The letter to President Buhari pleaded for a delayed commencement of works at the airport, saying that the postponement of the closure of the Enugu airport will allow adequate arrangements to be made for travellers. It also urged the president to heed to their initial plea to ban herders from moving in the region on foot.

What one can deduce from the whole letter writing is an aggravated show of 'eyes service' and a height of leaders insensitivity to the plights of the masses.
When has it become the duty of the president to ban herders from moving on foot when states are empowered to enact laws to safeguard their respective states.
Isn't it funny that the same leaders that have been banning Okada riders in their respective states from the comfort of their homes are now on their knees, pleading with the president to intervene in the insecurities rocking their States when they legally have all it takes to curb the herdsmen excesses.

When the then governor of Lagos state Raji Fashola rounded up and dumped hundreds of Igbo destitute under the upper Iweka bridge in Onitsha, he made no contact nor sought the approval of the then president.
The immediate past governor of Ekiti state also banned open grazing in his state without first writing a 'communiqué' to the president.

Hasn't it been said that peoples way of life defines their law? The wanton destruction of lives and properties by armed herdsmen is alien to the culture of Igbo land, just as pig farming is to the north. In the North, beers and other alcoholic drinks are destroyed citing the dictates of the Sharia law.
When will our leaders stop playing politics with the lives of the people they swore to protect?

As if that wasn't enough, they went ahead to plead with the president to delay commencement of works at the Enugu airport. What an unbridled display of callousness!!
Where were the South East governors forum when the budget for works on the airport was cut from the initial #2B to a paltry #500M by the Senate?

Where went the south east governors when FAAN first announced the plans to close the airport so as to effect major repairs on the runway?

Of course they were busy with their day-to-day business of politicking.
They have suddenly found their voice, realizing the importance of providing security for travellers thus writing to the president to enable them put their house in order, while air travellers continue to 'cheat death' as they continue making use of the dilapidated structures of the airport.

When federal government shut down the Abuja international airport and diverted travelers to the Kaduna state airport, the governor of the state didn't write Buhari to delay the diversion of travelers to his state, rather he said this:
“I’m saying that no matter what anybody said last week, I’m assuring Nigerians that the Abuja–Kaduna road is quite safe now and will be so following the measures put in place by the various security agencies.
“But I’m saying, as the governor of the state, based on the security measures put in place, I’m confident that the road is safe, and I drive on that road,’’

I want to applaud the president for ignoring the ignominious chants of south east governors as works have commenced at the airport. That was a good show of 'stubbornness'

It is quite unfortunate that our elected officials are exhibiting this gross neglect of their primary duties of governance and legislature that will be of benefit to the South East region and this conduct is unconscionable, selfish, crudely depressing and revealing of their incapacity to be leaders that our people put their trust in.

Odoh Ugochukwu writes from Enugu Ezike.