– unveils more empowerment strategy.
– endorsed with Governor Okowa for effective leadership.
By Ovedhe Hezekiah
Miffed with the proliferation of various youths groups with varying interests and purposes and in a move to have a unified youth body for Ndokwa nation,that can speak on behalf of the youths in Ndokwa East, West and Ukwani Local Government Area on issues bordering on youths, the Deputy Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Friday Ossai Osanebi yesterday in kwale convoked a session with all community youth leaders in the area to brainstorm on how to constitute a unified youth body for Ndokwa people that will enhance proper representation of her youths.
Speaking at the meeting which was held in Lococoon Hotel in kwale, the Deputy Speaker lamented poor representation of Ndokwa youths in the polity and advocated the need for a properly organized umbrella youth body for Ndokwa youths.
In his words “I have come to discuss with you as brothers and sisters, so that we can have a way forward for Ndokwa youths and Ndokwa nation. It is unfortunate that we don’t have a unified youth body that can speak for the Ndokwa youth. The Governor is aware of this meeting and our leaders too. So When a package is coming to the youths from government or from me, they should be a recognized channel or leader of Ndokwa youths as we have in other places, through which it should pass through to get to all the youths from Ndokwa nation.” The Deputy Speaker said.
He further added that the meeting was called so that he can cross pollinate ideas with the over 85 community youth leaders in the area and other relevant stakeholders on development and sundry issues as it affects the youths and the people.
He also stressed that a new empowerment scheme will soon be released by the government and needs the cooperation of youth leaders for it to be maximized by the people. Hear him: ” very soon, we will kick start another empowerment package called, Operation Feed your Neighbor, from which leaders will be mandated to sponsor one or two students from each community, and individuals involved will ensure that what ever is giving trickles down to the less privileged, which is the focus of empowerment.” He said, and further warned: ” this will not be the case of any community where there’s kidnaping, pipeline vandalism, oil bunkering, cases of crisis due to cultism and other social vices therefore as community youth leaders you must ensure these vices are checked to enhance peaceful coexistence”.
The youth leaders took turn to present issues affecting their various communities and the Deputy Speaker also responded accordingly. Some of the issues that took the front burner, as was presented by the youth were conflicting activities of various youth groups in the area, electricity, schools, job/youth empowerment, quota system in civil service employment as it affects Ndokwa people, IPP step down and so on.
Responding to questions as he interacted with the community youth leaders, the Deputy Speaker said that arrangements are in top gear to ensure that the whole Ndokwa nation is lighted up, through the upgrade of the second phase of the Independent Power Plant (IPP) in Okpai which is to be stepped down in Ndokwa Nation and further added that he had initially facilitated the electrification of some host communities in the area.
He vowed that he will ensure that youths in the area are properly organized with a leader that can represent the Ndokwa youth anytime, and that he will ensure that all interest groups, political leaders and major stakeholders are adequately involved to accomplish the task.
He also noted:” the constitution empowers all Nigerians to associate freely and I am not against anybody forming any group, but what I am after is that Ndokwa youths must be united under an umbrella, with credible leaders that will be respected globally”.
The Deputy Speaker also added that consultations are ongoing on a smooth and credible elections and assured the youth leaders of his continuous assistance.
The highly elated youths further passed a vote of confidence on the leadership charisma of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and Rt. Hon Friday Osanebi.
