Youths Group Condemn Igbo Eviction Notice, Call For Implementation Of National Policy

By CrossRiverWatch Admin

A youth group, The National Youth Assembly of Nigeria (NYAN) has called for the implementation of the national youth policy as a means to end youth restiveness.

This was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of its South-South regional summit held Friday, in Calabar the Cross River State capital where a new executive council for the state was also inaugurated.

The 7-point communiqué signed by the National Speaker, Olumhense Akhigbe, South South Coordinator, Eseme Philip and the State Speaker, Asuquo Ekpo Umo also berated a youth coalition for the calling for the eviction of the Igbo’s from northern Nigeria, describing it as “regrettable and insensitive,” and among others, called for youths in the Niger Delta region to stop “agonizing” but, “organizing” to themselves for their development.

The communiqué read in part: “The following resolutions were reached;

1. The youth called on all the Governors of the south south states to pull their resources together to establish a mega Refinery if states cannot fund them alone. The summit sis of the opinion that when we refine all our crude oil for local production, then the prices will be less very low, and the Job opportunity for the youth that will be created will be massive. It is a shame for us to gather our crude oil and transport it very far for refining, only to buy it back at a very exorbitant rate.

2. The summit also called on Government to do everything possible to implement the National Youth policy. The policy is well articulated and when judiciously implemented will curb youth restiveness and promote youth development.

3. The summit also call on the government of the region to make agriculture very attractive, by providing adequate funding for mechanization and training of youths, to enable them see the opportunities available in Modern Agriculture.

4. The youth commends Gov. Seriake Dickson for his effort in Education, urging all states to increase the level of funding to education development, because the greatness of all nation depends on the level of education giving to the youth. Effort must be made to make the quality of Education in the region a 21st century compliant education.

5. NYAN call on the youth from the south south region to stop agonizing but start organizing themselves to ask questions about the well being of the state. The era of the I don’t care attitude of the youth is over, we must wake up, get involved and champion the change we want to see.

6. The summit also condemn the eviction notice giving to Igbo’s to the North by a so called youth coalition, the statement is regrettable and highly insensitive to the state of the nation. We call on the President and the Inspector General of police to quickly call those youth to order to avoid any unnecessary death arising from the Ultimatum given.

7. The summit adopted the Youth Development fund bill sponsored by one of our member in Akwa Ibom state, saying such bill such be sent to all state houses of Assemblies in the zone. The bill seeks a reserve of 10% for youth development straight from the monthly allocations. Other bills also adopted are the ‘Not Too Young To Run’ bill and ‘The Age Limitation’ bill for political appointees which are currently in the National Assembly.

The group commended the reception accorded them by the state and lauded the Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Honorable John Lebo who was the keynote speaker at the event and decorated him as grand patron.

Lebo had in his address lamented that Nigeria is still practicing political democracy when the world has since moved to economic democracy and liberal democracy. He lampooned the youths for failing to develop themselves and set very low standards for themselves while the world was moving ahead.

He called on them not to wait for peanuts from political leaders but develop a spirit of taking opportunities the world offers  as well as developing an entrepreneurial approach as the world has since moved from asking questions about origins since only solution architects, design architects and future architects are been sort for now.

The Director General of the State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Betta Edu who was also decorated a patron and the Special Assistant to Governor Ben Ayade on student affairs, Michael Abuo charged youths to learn to sacrifice and go against all odds with Abuo tasking them to “read, learn, prepare and affiliate with like minds to make meaningful progress and show capacity.”

Mohammed Thompson who won the award for best youth corps member from the federal government while serving in Cross River State called on youths to use positively, the internet to continue learning the opportunities available to them especially in the sustainable development goals.

The summit which had in attendance, representatives of all the south-south states, ended with the decoration as patron, CrossRiverWatch News Editor, Jonathan Ugbal who moderated the Panel Session consisting of Betta, Michael, Mohammed, and Akhigbe.