Umahi Organizes Youth Summit, cautions against violence, destruction

The chairman of the Southeast governors forum and governor of Ebonyi State, Chief David Umahi, has lamented over the increasing razing of police stations in the region by unknown hoodlums.

Umahi made this known during Ebonyi #Endsars youths submit with a theme, “Youth engagement in national development” which took place at the ecumenical Christian centre, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital.

Umahi, who was on Friday, March 5, 2021, addressing over one thousand five hundred youths selected from the 13 local government areas of the state, expressed regret over the destruction of the police and other public facilities built by government to service the people in the region by youth organizations.

He however tasked youths to cease from further setting of police facilities ablaze.

Recall that numerous police stations in Southeast were set ablaze by youths organizations especially in Ebonyi State where over ten police stations were set ablaze and at least five police officers were killed in Ezza north, Izzi, Ohaozara, Ikwo, Ebonyi and Abakaliki Local Government areas of the State.

The governor, however vowed to work with all youths groups in the region but on the condition that they must avert further killings of police officers and setting ablaze of police stations and pubic facilities built by the government.

He said, “You must know that whatever you sow, you will reap. If you sow destruction or good will you reap it. You allow yourself to be used by politicians to destroy others, it is waiting for you to reap.

“I was told that the most wicked people on earth are poor people because in a small riot, they want to destroy things.

“The organizers of Endsars protest have good intention but unfortunately some hoodlums along the line hijacked it. But we did exonerate our youths. What later happened was never their making.

“I commend our dear President Buhari who immediately yielded to the demands of the youths and disbanded the section of the police called SARS and today we don’t have SARS.

“Mr. President has gone ahead to give hands of fellowship to our youths and its all over the nation. The President has directed that a national program should be organized for the youths.

“We want to hear you on how we will govern you. We want to know the way we will prepare the future for you. We want to know how you will handle us when we become much older and you take over.

“Nobody wants to be kidnapped at the age of 70, 80 or 90 just because of insecurity. That’s why we want to hear you out. We want you to take your future into your hands. We have set out N3 billion to empower youths.

“I want to appeal to our youths that the Southeast governors are not against any youth organization. We are not against the youths. We want to work with you. But look at what happened at Endsars period. You were destroying the strategic infrastructure. What do you want to achieve?

“You are burning down police stations, is not as if the hands of the police are tied but what will it profit them to waste the blood of the youths?

“There are certain activities some youths engaged themselves which are unprofitable. And it is the major setback to your future. I will like the youths to stand up and protect the basic infrastructure for your future”, he stated.