It is no longer news that the leadership of the youth wing of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, led by Mazi Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu, is exploring options to harness both the good, the bad and ugly potentials of Igbo youths, towards the benefit of Southeast region and Alaigbo in general.
What many may not know, is the impact of such efforts towards stemming the alarming insecurity situation in the region.
In his view, Mazi Okpalaezeukwu believes the security situation in the region was worsened by the neglect of the youths in the scheme of things, especially those who due to one circumstance or the other, may have found themselves in one vice or another.
Over the years, this has become a trend, further widening the gap between the positive youth population and the rest of the bulk, who have found themselves somehow ostracized from their own community, due to societal profiling and segregation.
The Ohaneze Ndigbo youth wing, with the astute support of the Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide ably led by The President General- His Excellency Chief Engr Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu (Ahaejiagamba Ndigbo) MFR OFR CFR, has therefore begun the movement for adequate social reintegration, to get every Igbo youth to commit to the cause of building a progressive homeland.
Part of the initiatives to achieve this mandate by the Leadership of Ohaneze Ndigbo Youth Wing Worldwide, is the intensified advocacy for the adoption of non-kinetic approaches in the form of ENGAGEMENT, REHABILITATION, REFORMATION and REINTEGRATION of towards battling the insecurity situation in the region.
Mazi Okpalaezeukwu believes that addressing the underlying factors driving agitations, such as gross maladministration of government at all levels and Neglect to federal character; remains a fundamental approach to be adopted for a meaningful result.
In his words; “When the non-kinetic approaches have helped pull out every redeemable youth from the crime net, then the long arm of the law, supported by the kinetic measures can be able to mop up the remaining recalcitrant ones, hell-bent on wrecking havoc in the society through crime.”
For the Governors of the Southeast states, the importance of this advocacy cannot be over-emphasized, as it would greatly enable the accomplishment of their first line duty as Chief Security Officers of their respective states. Also efforts to grow the Gross Domestic Product, GDP of the states will gain impetus, as persons who ordinarily would have been engrossed in crime, are now in productive ventures, contributing towards the socio-economic viability of the region.
To expound on this initiative and other strategies it is adopting to tactically engage the youths and save them from further death and destruction, the Ohaneze Youth leadership is also planning the Igbo Youths Security Summit.
The idea of the summit, which is coming up soon, is also to purge Alaigbo of non-state activities and all forms of criminalities in the name of self-determination, agitation for Biafra or campaign against marginalization.
The Ohaneze Youth Wing is calling all Igbo youths to the table, to begin to question our motives so far, to reexamine where we are vis a vis, the state of Igboland and to craft a new vision for the future of Igbo youths. In this new vision, no one is left behind- the good, the bad, the ugly, they all have a role to play. But, it must conform to the overall agreed common agenda of the people!
It behoves all the Governors of the Southeast states and indeed, all the people of Igboland, to rally support for this laudable initiative, coming from the Youth wing of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide.
For the first time in a long time, our youths have gotten it right and must be availed every necessary support to scale whatever it is doing right to begin the reorientation of Igbo youths, in a bid to save Alaigbo.
In an atmosphere of strife, violence, insecurity and chaos, no meaningful development or business activity can thrive. Well-meaning individuals, groups and businesses operating in Igboland are therefore encouraged to also key into this initiative, as the ultimate goal is to yield a peaceful, conducive and habitable homeland, that will support businesses to thrive.
Taaeshie Chukwunyekwe wrote from Mgbakwu, Awka North
