…As New Youths Body Births In Rivers
By: Felix Ikpotor
A youth leader in Rivers State, Comrade Imeabe Saviour Oscar has called on government at all levels to priortise the welfare of it’s citizens especially the youths as the future of the nation depends on them.
Oscar stated this in Port Harcourt shortly after he was inaugurated as the pioneer chairman the Coalition of Rivers State Youth Bodies, CORYB, saying it was hightime government looks at the ordinary people and fashion out policies to meet their needs rather than massaging the egos of a few elites in Abuja.
He noted that youths of Rivers State and Nigeria have long been neglected especially in the areas of leadership as those who are supposed to nurture the next generation of leaders were still hanging around the corridors of power and thereby denying the youths leadership opportunities.
“I urge the government to prioritise the welfare of it’s citizens because without the people there is no nation.
“I also call for the full inclusion of youths in policy making and governance because the idea that youths are the future of the nation has become a failed ideology as leaders are not giving space for the youths to grow as those who should be nurturing the next generation are still occupying the space. Therefore, I call on the government to give urgent attention to youths development, empowerment and leadership opportunities,” Oscar stated.
Giving reason for the formation of the body, the youth leader said the body has come to change the narratives about leadership in the state and to be a voice to the voiceless youths.
He stated categorically that the group is not an appendage of any political party, insisting that the body would fight against unfair government policies and entrench the rule of law and democratic governance.
“It is important to emphasize that the Coalition of Rivers State Youth Bodies, CORYB, is not an appendage of any political party.
” Under my watch, we’ll not rent out our platform for any political interest. We are here to be a voice to the voiceless, a shield for the vulnerable and to fight for justice and accountability. We will speak out against human rights violations and challenge unjust policies, we’ll hold public office holders accountable and stand firmly on the side of truth and equity,” he said.
While expressing appreciation to members of the newly formed body for chosing him as pioneer Chairman, Oscar promised to a use by the rules of the body while working to ensure empowerment of youths of the state.
“As Chairman, I will ensure that our youths are empowered, equipped and positioned to claim their rightful place in the leadership of Rivers State and Nigeria,” he added.
Earlier in his remarks, former Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Netherlands, Oji Ngofa urged the youths to rise above self interest if they wish to make significant impact in the state and nation.
He noted that most youth bodies have failed in the past because they put personal interest above stare and national interest praying the new body not to toe same path.
Ngofa said: “Today we have come to share this vision with you. As youths, to achieve a sort of significant impact that will make you respected you must rise above personal interest because from what I have seen recently with youths activism, youths are overwhelmed by their personal economic needs and as long as you continue in that trajectory, this gathering will amount to nothing.
“So if your not ready to use your youthful energy to pursue positive change above self, this gathering would amount to nothing. You will make no impact to the trajectory of our state that we are complaining about. So to make impact as youths, you must be sacrificial, you must place public interest over and above personal interest”.
In his keynote address, the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju while speaking on the topic; “Reclaiming The Future: Youths as Catalyst For Sustainable Development,” pointed out that the youths are the pillars of every society, stressing that it is the youths that triggers the change in every society.
Represented by the Officer Incharge of Operations in the Rivers State Command, ACP Iyke Okoro, the commissioner of police emphasized that for youths to be the catalyst of the required change, they must be equipped, empowered and trained in order to sustain the developmental architecture of the state.
CP Adepoju cited unemployment, environmental degradation, economic instability, political disenchantments and growing insecurity as some of the factors militating against the realization of the full potentials of Nigerian youths.
He however, urged the youths not to relent but to push for the change they desire.
To reclaim the future, he said government and all stakeholders should invest in quality education that equips young people with digital literacy, critical thinking abilities, environmental awareness and entrepreneurship while advocating that vocational skills relevant to the times must be made available.
In his solidarity message at the inauguration, Chairman of the Rivers State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Alex Agwanwor urged the youths to be peaceful and to support the ongoing peace and reconciliation efforts going on in Rivers State to return the state back to full democratic governance.
“We are aware that Rivers State is facing a serious challenge now but I want to urge you as youths that we must give all support to ongoing peace process irrespective of our political or ethnic sentiments.
“I want to also advise you as youths not to be an agent of destabilization. You must not be used as a tool to foster disunity, crisis and insecurity in the state. As youths you must advocate for peace and represent peace wherever we are found,” Agwanwor added.
Our correspondent reports that Senator Benneth Birabi, Dr Douglas Fabeke were amongst dignitaries that attended the event.
