By kingsley amaechi
Several youth organizations from various Local Government Areas of Imo State recently attracted delegates to Real Hotels Owerri, Venue of the Imo Youth Conference tagged; “Reclaiming Our Destiny” aimed at setting modalities of entering into contract with aspirants ahead of 2015 elections in order to put to an end political selfishness, short sightedness and greed by elected officials.
Youth crusader and former Commissioner for Special Duties and Strategy, Dr. K.C Okpaleke stated that the alarming rate of unemployment in the state was as a result of unaccountability of elected officials, their selfish tendencies and disregard for the youth in Imo State. He elaborated the challenges faced by graduates after their tertiary education which he said was centered on unemployment.
Dr. Okpaleke noted that pre-election contract with the highest voting demographics could serve as the needed means for making elected office holders accountable because of its inbuilt recall enforcement mechanism in their constitution which ensures that youths of Imo State will benefit from the existing democratic system. Okpaleke ensured the youths that employment is not subjected like a political football in Imo State.
The hounorable member representing Mbaitoli/Ikeduru in the Federal House of Representatives and President of the Pan African Parliament,. Rt. Hon. Bethel Amadi stated that the absence of youths in the process have made leaders make decisions for the youths instead of giving them the opportunity to buttress key issues affecting them. He disclosed that youth unemployment can be tackled through collective partnership between government and the private sector.
Rt. Hon. Bethel Amadi condemned Governor Rochas Okorocha’s issuance of N500 arrears stipends to primary school pupils, which he described as a corrupting mechanism to the children, stating that such money should have been properly channeled to provide adequate facilities and employ qualified teachers for the enhancement of the quality of education of Imo children. Hon Amadi regretted that Imo State which was among the best in WAEC, NECO and JAMB has dropped to the 9th position following recent results released. On the free education of Rochas Okorocha, Rt. Hon. Bethel disclosed that the Federal Government have continued to provide counter-part funds for free education for 9years through primary school and junior secondary and wondered why tertiary institutions in the state have continued to loss accreditation.
