According to the Nigerian Constitution, the main responsibility of the President, and the 36 State Governors is security; to protect the life and property of the citizens.
Therefore, it is in the course of protecting the citizens that Government indulges in other developmental projects, in order not to puncture the peace of the state. Reason being that lack of food, water, good roads, health even lack of good Government can lead the masses to take laws into their hands through mass strikes or demonstration which may hamper the security of state, just like it is happening in the Arab world today.
Therefore, when the constitution says the main responsibility of Government is security, it is not to budget Billions of Naira to purchase Amoured Cars, Bombers and various sophisticated weapons. It is not for Governors to have Billions of Naira as security votes. But it is for Government to provide those infrastructure that will engender development and sense of belonging to the citizenry, so as to produce peace and harmony among the people.
And for any society to have development and peace, it must make sure that its new generation (youths) is properly taken care of. Because without the future of the youths secured by any given society, chaos and mayhem looms, and such society is destined for a destructive future.
This brings me to my topic of today, which is the high rate of crime inImoStatein particular, andNigeriain general.
From my studies, I discovered that our Government, both at the State and National levels treat the future of youths with levity, and yet complain about the spate of criminality every where in the country. You don’t plant orange and harvest mango.
Since President Goodluck Jonathan was elected as president, what definite action has he taken to improve the lot of the unemployed graduate youths roaring the streets? All we hear about is lip service to the plight of our suffering youths, while Government is busy channeling funds on frivolous projects that cannot and has no bearing on the unemployed youths.
The rate of Kidnappings, Yahoo and other crimes are growing by the day, simply because our youths are in disarray, with what to do with their lives, and therefore take to the easiest “runs” they think that can fetch them a daily meal.
Is it not an irony that despite the fact that kidnapping carries a capital punishment (death), yet our youths are engaging in the act every day? Despite all the arrests and battles with the Police, more youths are joining the “Trade”. This is a very dangerous development.
Armed Robbery, Kidnappings and other vices are getting more sophisticated today, because it has become a trade for educated people, populated by these frustrated youths, who carry various certificates ranging from Engineering, Law, Social Sciences and other Degrees.
The other day, Chairman of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote made it known that some people with PHD applied in his company as Drivers. Till date, no body has contradicted Dangote.
Let me state here that I don’t in any way support criminal acts, nor do I support that the only thing left for an unemployed graduate is to take to crime.
But what I am saying is that necessity is the mother of invention, while an idle mind is a devil’s workshop. Most of the criminals nabbed by police today, when confessing will tell you that they are graduates, and are between the ages of 30-35.
If Prof Wale Soyinka says his generation is a wasted generation, this generation is no generation, and should not even been recorded, because inept, rudderless and looting Government have annihilated their future and reduced them to productive layabouts.
What I am saying here is that Government through its lack of focus and commitment to the youths has pushed most of them into various crimes.
It is very dangerous to the entire society, that parents will borrow money, sell lands and other property to educate their children, only for these children to graduate, and still become liabilities to same poor parents, who has exhausted all they have in their children, whose future has been destroyed by a Government that sees governance as a personal and friends affair.
Nigeriamakes Trillions of Naira yearly, yet her citizens are feeding from dust bins, and the leaders are too far detached from the people to realize that the masses are suffering.
How many years will it take President Goodluck Jonathan to restore constant Electric Power toNigeria? The whole thing sounds like a rocket science here, whileGhanafor over twelve years now has constant Electricity.
The reason is that while other countries have priorities, as concerns their citizens’ well-being, Nigerian Leaders only pursue those projects that are of benefit to them, and their families.
If not, how would the Federal Government thinking of building a (N14 B) Fourteen billion naira mansion for Vice President Namadi Sanibo now, when 70% of Nigerians cannot afford a roof over their heads?
Federal Government has budgeted (N2 B) two billion naira to construct a new Banquet Hall in Aso Rock, when Nigerian youths cannot get jobs. N1.8 B was budgeted for feeding Jonathan and his family next year, when Nigerians have not eaten today and have no clean water to drink. Fuel is now selling N120 per litre in Owerri and else where. Are all these indications of a leadership that knows the pains of those they are leading?
While some of these projects are laudable, but its timing is wrong because of the suffering in the land.
Our leaders should try to show a little commitment to the plight of the masses by making sacrifices.
WhenGhanawas passing through its economic woes, President Jerry Rawlings was traveling on Economy class. Recently President Banda ofMalawirecently reduced her salary to save money for the people. But inNigeriawe have Ten Jets in the fleet of the President, while American President has only one and Prime Minister of Great Britain does not have any and travels with commercial flights.
Back toImoStatehere, Governor Rochas Okorocha immediately he was sworn-in sacked a whopping Ten thousand youths employed by his predecessor, Ikedi Ohakim, not for any reason, but because of political supremacy.
These ten thousand educated youths of Imo extraction, are among the unemployed legion loitering around the state now looking for what to “do”. These idle minds are out there, vulnerable to crime.
One of the victims called me one day, and told me that he and his fiancée were among the 10,000 employed but had to ask her fiancée to abort a twin because he had looked forward to a bright future after clinching the job, received 3 months salary only to be sacked later by Okorocha. This is a true story.
Now, the same Government has lifted ban on unemployment, but will these sacked youths ever remain “sane” again to look for new jobs?
The free Education policy of Governor Okorocha was the major clincher that gave him the peoples support. Today, the free education has created a lot of “trouble” for the unemployed youths in the state.
It is on record that rather than use the free education to ameliorate the unemployment rate in the state, it has rather created capital flight for Imo Economy.
Every material for the free education project, from school uniforms, chalks, sandal, biro, books, including building materials are imported from abroad. Imagine what would have happened to Imo Economy, if our indigenous tailors, shoe makers, masons, building material sellers etc were given these jobs.
Our youths, including some of the sacked 10,000 youths, would have gotten what to busy their minds and busy on. Instead, the stupendous amount used in importing these materials has left Imo on a capital flight. How then would money be available and circulate in the state?
Okorocha has stopped the monthly clean-up exercise which not only kept the state clean, and hygienic, but also employs our youths. The only reason being that it was initiated by another administration, even though is generally accepted by Imo people.
The clean up exercise employs Tipper owners, Drivers, Labourers, Diesel sellers, Shovel and Wheel Barrow sellers etc. these people have remained unemployed since the stoppage of the clean-up exercise in Imo, and are now among the loitering and dangerous unemployed youths in Imo.
Okorocha’s administration has shunned the Vigilante Groups existing in the state right from the Udenwa administration, and formed his own called “Security Network” without any input from the teeming Vigilante Groups.
What happens to these legions of Vigilante Group whose funding Government has stopped? What will be the job of these Para-Militarily trained youths, now abandoned to roam the villages, Towns and state without job, with their working implements? This Group is another dangerous and idle mind in the state.
ImoStateis not rich. The state makes an average of N3.4 Billion from the Federation account monthly. Therefore, the meager amount should be channeled towards productive ventures that will benefit the people.
For instance, the Imo State Commissioner for Information, Mr Chinedu Offor said the state has spent N13 Billion on roads, yet no single road has been completed in the state, except the numerous uncompleted roads scattered everywhere.
The contractors who handled these jobs have come openly to confess that they have not been paid. Paying these local contractors will reduce crime in the state as their wards and children will be mentally and financially stable.
I know that had Gov Okorocha sunk such amount into the fly-overs started by his predecessor, Imo citizens coming for this Christmas would have been shocked with the state of roads in Owerri.
Those projects, though started by Ohakim, belong toImoState, and posterity and Imo people will not forget that it was Okorocha that completed it, and made life better for them.
Even in the lack of funds in Imo, the round-abouts at Okigwe road, Assumpta and Fire Service started over a year ago are still not completed, instead each time they reach completion stage are demolished and started again, with Imo spending money that would have been put on other projects. Last week, both the one at Fire Service and Assumpta Cathedral round-about were yet again demolished. Does Imo have such money to be indulged in such a manner when our youths are roaming the streets?
The latest fad in Imo is the construction of Halls by Government. There is theBongo Square, Ojukwu Centre,Heroes Square, another one is springing up at Imo Hotel, yet another at Government House, apart from the Exco and Banquet Halls already there.
What are the economic benefits of these “Squares” and “Halls” the unemployed Imo youth?
Imo Trumpeta, as small as it is, employs 10 graduates. Rather than Government support such establishments for employing our youths, Banana peels are strewn on its way every day, including attempts on their lives for saying the truth.
Government can open small companies to accommodate the teeming unemployed youths in Imo to reduce crime.
While one will acknowledge that the Governor is doing his best to improve the lot of Imo people, he should try and eschew political vengeance, but pursue those policies that will benefit all Imo people, despite political affiliations so that crime reduce and peace and progress will reign in Imo.
