Obinna Ogbonnaya
Abakaliki
The Ebonyi State Governor, Chief David Umahi yesterday directed the State leadership of Christian Association of Nigeria CAN to conduct a census of all the unemployed Youths from the state residing outside the state to enable his administration carry out an empowerment program that would make them self-reliant.
Governor Umahi gave the directive during the closing ceremony of the one week fasting and praying session for Peace and Security organized by the State Government in conjunction with the Christian Association of Nigeria CAN at the Christian Ecumenical Center Abakaliki.
The Ebonyi State Governor who noted that such empowerment program is aimed at keeping the youths busy and self-reliant adding that with such empowerment programs in place, the issue of youth restivness and banditry ravaging the South East zone of late will be a thing of the past.
Governor Umahi said that the census would be carried out in states like, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Lagos, Imo, Abia, Rivers State, Enugu and other states that has heavy presence of youths from the state.
He also urged the leadership of CAN to also engage other youths in the 13 local government areas of the state in a dialogue adding that such dialogue would enable them voice out their agitations and grievances against the leaders of the country.
The State Governor noted that after due consultations with the youths and the planned empowerment program, any youth in the state found still bearing arms and terriosing the state would be arrested and prosecuted.
Governor Umahi who reaffirmed his earlier stand to grant amnesty to bandits in the state expressed the regret that many leaders in the country are supporting the activities of bandits and urged them to desist from such unpatriotic act.
He called on South East agitators to make themselves available to the newly constituted South East reconciliation committee adding that violence, destruction of government facilities would rather divide the zone further than bring us together.
The South East Governors Forum Chairman who frowned at the high level of fake news circulating in the social media advised the people to stop fanning the embers of disunity, bitterness, division and rancor among South East leaders and the people.
The state Governor further advised the opposition parties to engage the government on constructive criticism and proffer solutions to the challenges facing the country adding that he would soon engage the opposition parties in a dialogue to discuss on how best to move the state forward.
Earlier, the State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria CAN who is also the Special Assistant to Governor Umahi on Religious and Welfare Matters, Rev Fr. Abraham Nwali noted that God has always intervened in the numerous communal clashes and insecurity in the state.
Rev Fr Nwali urged the people to always show appreciation to God for ending the communal clashes in the state adding that such crisis that would have brought the state to it’s end has always been resolved through fervent prayers and fasting of Christian in the state.
The one week fasting and prayers featured, intercessory prayers, songs and repentance for the innocent bloodshed in the wake of the bandit attacks, communal crisis among others. Ends.
