The
Chairman, National Youth Council of Nigeria Odukpani Chapter, Comrade Okon
Philip has called on the federal and state government to as a matter of urgency
and as a way of forestalling peace in the local government area, relocate the
local government council headquarter to Okurikang.
The
chairman made this know while delivering his flag off speech at the recently
concluded Peace and security summit organized by National Youth Council
Odupkani Chapter held at the council headquarter earlier this week.
Philip,
noted with pains that the people of Odukpani had suffered severe security
challenges that have led to social vices, lost of lives, properties and
farmlands. He lamented the poor security apparatus in the local government area
calling on the state government to equip the water ways with patrol teams and establishment of police post in every
council ward not just in the Local government but in entire federation so as to
protect the lives of Odukpani indigenes whom he said have decided to lay down
their arms and embrace peace.
I strongly agitated for the relocation of
Odukpani headquarters to Okurikang Area, precisely Ikot Nyong or Esuk Odot and
the construction of security base in all the council ward in the country during
the youth peace and security summit. My reasons for the relocation of council
headquarters was because the present headquarter is too far from the people, in
fact, it's over 100kms and as such our people find it so difficult to access
their sit of government. Secondly, From Ikot Nyong
in Okoyong bloc or Esuk Odot in Odot Clan to the Odukpani endbridge no security
agency is found there. But if the was local govt headquarters around that area,
the federal and state government would have mount security present there. Besides
that, the essence why the Odukpani Council headquarter was planted at it
present location was because of Akpabuyo people. Since Akpabuyo was carved out
of Odukpani local government Area, there was need to relocate Odukpani
headquarters to centralize point to reduce the suffering of our people while trying
to access their headquarter. I pray our people have this understanding. He said
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In a related development, the House of Assembly
member representing Odukpani at the state house Hon Bassey Akiba, has strongly
opposed the proposal of relocating the council Headquarter to Okurikang . Speaking
with news men immediately after the summit, Hon. Akiba said relocating the
council headquarter is not the solution to the crisis the local government is
currently facing.
“I wouldn’t want to agree with him on
that, that’s not the problem. Like what we keep talking even in the national
prospective. I wouldn’t want to agree that the real issue is the head quarter
no! it’s not the headquarter, the real
issue it’s our mind. Like I said, no matter what government will do, move
headquarter there or leave it here, and mobilize security apparatus to crisis
area and all that, if our mind is still that of “No we must be at war”,
I think there is there is little we can do but if our mind is “we must have peace”. In fact 80% of what we require as peace in our people is not government, government is just to encourage and support you to live in peace the major thing there is the people.
I think there is there is little we can do but if our mind is “we must have peace”. In fact 80% of what we require as peace in our people is not government, government is just to encourage and support you to live in peace the major thing there is the people.
Once the people decide to be in peace, there
will be peace, it’s not government, government is there to encourage and
support you.” Hon.
Akiba insisted.
The event which had all the youth leaders from
the various communities that makes up local government area present featured
talks and lectures from the security personnel, Clergy and member representing
Odukpani in the state house all bordered on the need to maintain peace and
security. High point of the summit was a question and answer as well as communiqué
drafting session.
Earlier on the chairman of Youth Council had
rolled out some appeal
and suggestions that will aid peace in the local government. The suggestions
are as follows:
1.
That
the certificate of recognition any village/clan head that is not residing in
his community should be withdrawn.
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2 That
the federal and state government should approve the construction of security
base in all the council wards in Odukpani Local Government Area as well as the
entire country
That
without any political sentiments, the Odukpani Local Government council head
quarter be relocated to Okurikang area or its environs.
Comrade Philip thanked everyone who made sure
the summit was a success.
Ukorebi Esien
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