NEWS
Insecurity: Southeast Youths Lost Confidence in their Leaders, Prof Sam Amadi
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.
“What we are seeing is a lack of social trust, any society where people do not respect organised State order and everybody begins to achieve his own personal Justice by his own understanding will enter into anarchy”.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.
Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President Chief Ajuri Ngelale has quit his job. He said in a statement in a Abuja that he would proceed on an ” indefinite leave, to deal with ” medical matters” affecting him amd hia immediate family.Hos statement reads: “On Friday, I submittd a memo to the Chief of Staff to the President informing my office that I am proceeding on an indefinite leave of absence to frontally deal with medical matters presently affecting my immediate, nuclear family.
While I fully appreciate that the ship of state waits for no man, this agonizing decision — entailing a pause of my functions as the Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity and Official Spokesperson of the President; Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action, and Chairman, Presidential Steering Committee on Project Evergreen — was taken after significant consultations with my family over the past several days as a vexatious medical situation has worsened at home.I look forward to returning to full-time national service when time, healing, and fate permit.I respectfully ask for some privacy for my family and family”
By David Torough, Abuja
About 1000 Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), under the auspices of Coalition Of Civil Society Organisations (CCSOs), on Saturday Faults President Bola Tinubu’s Economic Team and called for immediate reconstitution.Expressing deep concerns over the state of the economy and escalating fuel prices compounding the hardship of Nigerians despite the recent protest, the groups said Tinubu must act now to avert disintegration.
The groups said the current situation across the country has cast doubt on the competence of the Tinubu economic team and called for urgent review. The CCSOs in a statement by its National Coordinator, Mallam Ibrahim Mohammed, pointed out that the plight of Nigerians is sinking low and their patience is wearing off following the deteriorating economy.The statement reads in part, “The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) is deeply concerned about the deteriorating state of the Nigerian economy, which is becoming increasingly unbearable for millions of citizens.“It is evident that the recent hike in fuel prices and the unstable exchange rate are the direct results of economic mismanagement by those responsible for overseeing our nation’s financial policies. The ripple effects of these failures are being felt in every household across the country, worsening poverty and crippling economic activity.“The floating of the Naira, which was initially sold to Nigerians as a means of stabilizing our currency, has done little to prevent the continued devaluation of the Naira. In fact, the exchange rate disparity has widened significantly, with the Naira losing value daily, impacting the cost of living, basic commodities, and inflation.“While this policy was expected to ease foreign exchange pressure, it has instead deepened economic challenges due to poor implementation and lack of strategic foresight.”The coalition also expressed concern over what it described as a death trap of indebtedness of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), which also they claimed had slowed down importation of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, hence the current shortage of PMS across the country. “Of equal concern is the precarious position of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), which finds itself in a debt trap, with global suppliers of petroleum products losing confidence in Nigeria’s ability to honour its obligations.“Reports have shown that NNPCL has accrued debts totalling over $6 billion, causing petrol supply shortages. International suppliers are now reluctant to continue providing fuel on credit, exacerbating supply chain issues and pushing up the price of petrol at the pump”, they claimed.The CSOs also asserted that, “We hold the managers of the Nigerian economy responsible for these disturbing developments. Their inability to provide sound policies and long-term solutions has left the nation in this predicament.“It is clear that there is no cohesive strategy to address the rising debt, the growing imbalance in the foreign exchange market, or the country’s heavy reliance on importation for petrol supply. The recent hike in fuel prices reflects the collapse of responsible economic management and accountability.“Nigerians are left to bear the brunt of these failures. Businesses are shutting down, transportation costs have skyrocketed, and citizens are spending an increasingly larger percentage of their income on basic necessities. This state of affairs is unacceptable.”The group therefore placed some demands; Immediate intervention from the government: There needs to be a comprehensive and transparent plan to stabilize the Naira, restore confidence in the petroleum supply chain, and negotiate a restructuring of NNPC’s debts to ensure continuous fuel supply.“Accountability for economic mismanagement: Those responsible for the reckless management of our foreign exchange policies and NNPC’s debts must be held accountable. The government must also disclose its plan to mitigate the rising fuel costs and economic burden on Nigerians.“A return to sound financial policy: The floating of the Naira has proven ineffective under current conditions. We call for a re-evaluation of monetary and fiscal policies to stabilize the economy, reduce inflation, and attract foreign investment.“In conclusion, the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations reiterates that without immediate corrective measures, the economic situation will continue to deteriorate, leading to further hardship for the average Nigerian. The government must act decisively and responsibly to reverse this downward spiral”, they added.
There is growing tension in Ugondu community, Makurdi LGA, Benue state by young people opposed to the demolition of houses and destruction of rice farms in the area allegedly on the directives of senior Air Force officer, Air Commodore Akinbuwa Ayodele.
It was learnt that Commodore Ayodele, who is facing multiple legal actions following dispute over a plot of land located on George Akume Way Makurdi and owned in blatant disregard to the judicial process embarked on destruction of structures on the plot.
Eyewitness said when the equipment arrived no one imagined it was for destruction.
But in a militray- like operation, two flats of two units each, completely roofed, electrified and plumbing work completed were among the structures demolished as the bulldozers rolled over rice farms in the vicinity as well.
It was learnt that last year, a Makurdi High Court presided by Justice Mary Ijohor, granted an order of perpetual injunction, in the same matter, upon application by the supposed owner of the plot and awarded the sum of One Million Naira (N1,000,000.00) only, as cost. The matter, enforcement of fundamental rights, was marked as MHC/582/M/2023.
Godwin Akor whose rice farm was destroyed in a chat with newsmen said that he was shocked at the development. He however said he won’t speak more on the matter as it is still before the court.
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