The insecurity in Southeastern Nigeria has gotten to the point where people of the region cannot afford to reserve any resource in their arsenal, in finding lasting solution to the security impasse.
This is according to the acting national leader of the Youth wing of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, Mazi Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu, who spoke to newsmen in Awka, Anambra State Capital on Thursday.
Okpalaezeukwu, whose administration has taken strategic steps to engage critical stakeholders to find lasting solutions to the challenge of insecurity in the Southeast, believes that all capabilities of Igbo youths, including the good, the bad and ugly must be explored bring back peace to the Southeast.
According to him, if youths are prone to violence, restiveness and insecurity in the region, then they can also be veritable instruments in the resolution of the insecurity situation in the region.
“We have the conviction that God has appointed us at this time to harmonize the capabilities of the Igbo youths, both the good and ugly, in the pursuit of the socio-economic good and security of the Southeast.
“The time has come now.
“As a student of science, I know that the vaccines for diseases are produced from the micro-organisms that cause the diseases. Therefore, we want to begin to engage the diversities of our youths and harmonize them to one central purpose- to enhance the socio-economic wellbeing of the Southeast.
“In my believe, we have come to the point where we cannot reserve any of our arsenal in addressing the security challenges we face as a people,” he posited.
The Ohaneze Ndigbo Youths leader extolled the present leadership of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide under Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu and his National Executive Committee for underscoring the point in engaging non-kinetic approach to stemming the security impassse in the Southeast.
The Ohaneze Youths leader further commended the strategic strep taken by the Ohaneze Ndigbo leadership in creating a special committee to tackle unemployment among youth unemployment, saying that through the committee, the apex Igbo organization hopes to restore the Igbo spirit of apprenticeship known as ‘Igba Boi’.
“We commend the establishment of Youth Employment and Business Committee” led by HE Sen. Dr. Chris Ngige CON. We have confidence that through this committee many Igbo Youths shall be engaged and empowered out of idleness, thereby keeping then busy and unavailable for recruitment into non-state activities.
“Again, the Southeast governors hitherto, did not demonstrate any form of unity but today, they are beginning to come together and have identified the fact that Igbo youths are crucial to the realization of peace in the region.
“We are leveraging this new direction with the wisdom and vision God has given us, to begin to re-engage Igbo youths on a new vision.
“There is need for non-kinetic approach towards addressing the security challenges in the Southeast, so that as a people, we can position for greater exploits in the Nigerian entity.
“I call on Igbo youths to acknowledge that this is our time and the leadership of Igboland rests on our shoulders.
“We must therefore, forge a union in the principles of ‘Igwebuike’ to present a formidable agenda for Igbos in the Nigerian entity,” he said.
Okpalaezeukwu also emphasized on the upcoming Igbo Youths Peace and Security Summit planned by the Ohaneze Ndigbo Youth wing later this year.
“Sometime in November this year, we are organizing the Igbo Youths Peace and Security Summit as one of the avenues to achieving the desired goal of Peace and Security in the Southeast.
“We want to achieve a viable window for adequate communication among youths in Igboland.
“We have identified communication as a key step to drive an idea or initiative and we must continue to pursue that to reform the mindset of our youths towards healthy competition, towards avoidance of all social vices that are capable damaging the future of the youths.
“All we are looking at achieving is strategic communication that will reform our youths and make us to start participating in plans and policies for good governance in the southeast,” Okpalaezeukwu concluded.
