From Sylvia Udegbunam, Enugu

The former Director of Nigeria electrical regulatory commission (NERC), Prof Sam Amadi has disclosed that the Southeast youths have lost confidence in the institutional leadership of the region in terms of security stressing that the politicians are responsible for insecurity in the region.

Amadi who made this known during the South-East Youth security summit, emphasized that the youths in the region have resorted to dangerous self-help believing that their leaders whether formal or informal cannot secure their safety.

While delivering lecture in Enugu with theme “The Good Citizen” he noted that, if Southeast Governors or local government Chairmen do not take responsibility to protect the life of their own people, and take it as a primary focus of governance, they are sending a message to the youths that they are on their own, therefore they are telling them to disregard State order”.

According to him, the aggravator of insecurity in the South East today is the perception and belief by young people that nobody cares for them, that they are victims of state actions. The perception has to be managed and dealt with. Young people need assurance that their lives matter and lives count. If the elders and government does not provide assurance, we are going to unleash insecurity.

He narrated how the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), did a profile of all the regions in Nigeria as late as 2016- 2017, and said that the SouthEast is the most secure and peaceful region in the country. “Things practically changed from 2017. We started seeing a dangerous turn around in security in 2018. This insecurity is adversely affecting the economy of the region. You cannot develop an economy without security. Economic growth is dependent on state order”.

He went further to accuse politicians for causing insecurity in the South East because of their political quest. “Politicians are responsible for the crisis in the Southeast. They cause insecurity mostly through unregulated fight for political powers, which led to mobilisation of young people as thugs. They indulge in politics without morality and self-control”.

He advises the Southeast Governors to use their laws and defend their citizens while lamenting that they refused to set up security apparatus for the South-East to enhance the work of police and other security agencies. “Ebubeagu should be changed to “Anyaoha ” because Ebubeagu is too athletic. They are using force. We need to have policing security based on intelligence and community support”. Anyaoha will be a system where the people themselves will contribute to the intelligence to protect themselves”.

He further advised on continuous youth security summit, Clearing and stopping of hotspots for kidnapping and killings in order to attract investors. He urged the Southeast government to create a program that will win the hearts of the youths.

The commissioner of police Enugu, Kanayo Uzuegbu speaking on the topic Security and governance appeal to youths to have a sense of purpose and imbibe the culture of good behavior, stressing that they should engage themselves in good and responsible business rather than indulge in drug abuse. He further advises the parents to give their children education and also instill good character in them.

The president of Master Energy as well as former minister of mine and steel, Uche Ogah in an interview commended the organizers of the summit saying that it is very apt. He also commended some Southeast Governors for the effort they are putting in place to build a strong security in their State. He further advised the youths to be good citizens by being security conscious of where they are living, who their next neighbors are and what they do for a living.

The Commissioner for youths and Sports Lloyd Ekweremmadu commended the convener of the security summit and advocates for continuous sensitisation and reorientation of the South-East youths to help in curbing crime in the region.

He said that Enugu State government key interest is to create employment for the youths and urge them not to indulge in hard drugs or crime in the State. 

The convener of the program Mr Monday Diamond Ani earlier in his opening address, said that his aim for organizing the program is to re-orientate the South East youths on the importance of security in the region. 

The event witnessed the attendance of youths and youth organizations in the region and also featured presentation of meritorious awards to local government Chairmen of Enugu East, Nsukka and Udi.