The People’s Democratic Party PDP in Ebonyi State have said that the free dispensing of N2000 Premium Motor Spirit, PMS popularly known as Patrol to commercial motorcyclists in Afikpo Local Government by the Deputy Governor of the State, Princess Patricia Obila cannot be described as empowerment Program.
A Chieftain of the party in the State, Hon Okoro Ewa who expressed concern over the number of graduates in Afikpo who have resorted to Okada riding as a means of livelihood urged the Deputy Governor to come up with an empowerment Program that will benefit the graduates.
Hon Ewa maintained that gathering 50 commercial motorcyclists in a fueling station and dispense N2000 fuel to each of them cannot be described as an empowerment Program that should be celebrated in the different media outfits.
It has become embarrassing and disheartening to watch graduates and undergraduates in Afikpo who because of none availability of jobs and empowerments opportunities resorted to Okada Riders to be invited by our Deputy Governor to dispense N2000 fuel to them and described it as empowerment Program.
The Deputy Governor as the number 2 citizens of the State with the support of the State Governor should map out a meaningful program for the youths of Afikpo. We had expected that she will use her good office to attract skill acquisition program for the teeming youths of Afikpo especially the graduates that are eager to do something meaningful for themselves.
The ruling party must as a matter of necessity have a well thought out plan for our youths. Skill acquisition centers should be established where youths can be train on different skills and thereafter be empowered.
The State Government through the relevant authorities must also monitor the program and ensure that it gets to the genuine persons. The idea of training people and giving them facilities to start up something without adequate monitoring should be discouraged.
This is the expectations of the good people of Afikpo and not to gather Okada Riders and purchase N2000 fuel for them and all the social media will be agog with the celebration. It is embarrassing and shameful.
One of the Okada Riders and a graduate of Business Economics who spoke on grounds of anonymity said that though the gesture would serve purpose, he urged the State Government to accommodate them in the State empowerment Program adding that it will be more beneficial to them.
In Afikpo, we have a huge number of us that are graduates and undergraduates that are into the business of commercial motorcyclists, Okada because there are no white collar job anywhere.
We are not expecting white collar job from the State Government, all we are asking is that we should be remembered in the State empowerment Program. The empowerment should not just be for relatives, friends and well-wishers of political stakeholders in the State.
The State Governor, Francis Nwifuru has good intentions for the youths but the stakeholders usually hijack every opportunity created by the State Government for the youths. Our prayer is for them to remember us that do not have political stakeholders.
It would be recalled that Okada Riders in Afikpo Local Government Area on Tuesday gathered at Tom Gadas filling Station to receive free fuel from the Deputy Governor.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, the Treasurer of Motorcycle Transport Union of Nigeria, MTUN, Afikpo Urban, Comrade Samuel Onya described Ebonyi Deputy Governor as a mother par excellence and thanked her for once again identifying with them and wished her well in all her endeavors.
