Imo: Oguta Ameshi Youths Seek Peace, Demand Amnesty, Skills Acquisition From Govt

By Ikenna Orioha.

Youths of Oguta Ameshi, under the auspices of Oguta Community Development Union, OCDA, have sought the prompt intervention of Imo State Government to the leadership crisis bedevilling them so that peace and development reign supremely at their community.

They made the request for the reversal of the conflict at their community when they paid a courtesy visit to the Commissioner of Youth and Sports, Hon Dan Chike Ogu, at his Office, in Owerri, on Tuesday.

Leading the youth on the courtesy visit, Comr Akeru Ben, who is the President of Oguta Ameshi Youth, indulged the waring youths to come together and iron out their differences if peace and progress must be gained.

Akeru pleaded with the Commissioner to use his good Office to prevail on Governor Hope Uzodimma so that he intervenes to settle the lingering leadership crisis ravaging Oguta Ameshi Youth and in extension Oguta LGA ISOPADEC Youth.

Akeru said they “are law- abiding. This is why we want Governor Hope Uzodimma to give more attention to Oguta Ameshi Youth crisis so that it can be settled amicably”.

Akeru Ben, Oguta Ameshi Youth President

Akeru remarked that Oguta LGA ISOPADEC Youths are resilient, formidable and assertive, urging the state government to stick to its earlier position to still cancel the alleged purported ISOPADEC Youth election, saying “factions must be reunited for free and fair election or government appoints Caretaker Committee Members to man the affairs of the ISOPADEC Youth Wing to avoid violence and bloodshed until further notice.

“It is clear that the TC Chairman of Oguta, Hon Emma Mmazu, has made a radio announcement earlier asking Oguta ISOPADEC Youths to suspend every preparation for the election pending when ISOPADEC Board will be constituted. Just as the Commissioner of Youth and Sports did not issue any letter endorsing the conduct of the kangaroo election and this action was an act of sabotage to the present government”.

He advised those causing crisis at the Oil Rich Kingdom to stop and embrace peace to move forward, saying their courtesy visit to the Commissioner was not politically induced, but rejected the ISOPADEC Youth election which he identified as misnomer and uncalled for.

Oguta Ameshi Youth led by their President, Akeru Ben with Commissioner of Youth and Sports, during a courtesy visit to the Commissioner, on Tuesday, in Owerri.

The youth, who regretted that the crisis is caused by some unfortunate political leaders of the area, demanded for inclusion of youths of Oguta Ameshi to skills acquisition, bursary, employment and scholarship and the Presidential Amnesty program, of which they frowned eluded them by the past government since it was introduced, reiterating that the skills acquisition, scholarship, bursary and employment would make them shun violence.

With Ochia Ifeaka, Nkeiruka Uzoma, who are respectively Secretary and Women Leader, Mr Obinna Irona, Ex- agitator, Niger Delta including Hilary Nwokocha (Patron) and Elder Lawrence Ijeoma, imploring Governor Hope Uzodimma “to prevail on the Multinational Oil and Gas Companies operating at Oguta Land to agree to sign MoU with us, recognize youths, engage us to a meeting and support our Community Development Agenda”.

They thanked Goodluck Nana Opia for being a good leader at Ohaji, Egbema, Oguta and Oru East Federal Constituency, just as they eulogized Governor Uzodimma for appointing Hon Emma Mmazu and G. Nzeribe into his government.

Reassuring Governor Uzodimma of their continued solid support to transform Imo State, the Oguta Ameshi Youth begged him to promptly release Musa Osai, Chukwuebuka Ukachukwu and Uzonwanne Henry, who are being detained by Police over the 2019 Imo State Guber Election in the course of defending APC Votes. They called on the Commissioner to work in synergy to resolve their leadership crisis.

Responding, Commissioner of Youth and Sports, Hon Dan Chike Ogu, promised the youth that government will intervene to reconcile their differences, but advised them to continue to remain law- abiding while eschewing violence.

Ogu, while reminding them of the need to work in obedience and cordiality with their leaders, said “government will do the right thing to change the narratives at the approximate time. You are not being neglected. You produce oil, but you do not have light, water, good road network. Stop allowing your leaders to use you to make money and fame because at the end of the crisis youths lose and for you to have lasting peace, every body, including your leaders, must be carried along.

“From my best knowledge, I do not know anything about the said Oguta ISOPADEC Youths election. Because I did not write any letter endorsing the conduct of the election”, the Commissioner stated.

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