Ohanaeze backs Okorocha on ID card for northernersa

The Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndi’gbo, has backed Governor Rochas Okorocha over the Imo State Government’s plan to register northerners in the state and issue them identity cards.

Shortly after security forces arrested 486 northerners suspected to be Boko Haram members in Abia State, one of whom was a wanted key member of the sect, the Imo State Government had proposed issuance of identity cards to northerners in the state as a way of preventing insurgents from the state.

The Senate and the apex body of the North, Arewa Consultative Forum, had criticised the state government for the registration exercise.

The upper chamber, on Thursday, specifically called on President Goodluck Jonathan to direct that security agencies must not partner the state government on the policy. It also called on Okorocha to stop the policy “immediately.”

The National Publicity Secretary, Ohanaeze, Chris Oganah, who spoke to our correspondent on Friday, said the national identity card scheme was not enough in preventing terrorism. He said each state should have a database for residents “for planning purposes.”