Ebonyi: Ohanaeze Youth Leader wants end to youths arrest, harassment
The National Youth leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Engr Damian Okafor, has called on the politicians involved in the alleged incessant arrest and harassment of youths in Ishiagu Community in Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, to desist forthwith, or have the youths to contend with.
Mr Okafor who gave the warning at the weekend at a civic reception organized by the people of Ishiagu community to celebrate his election as the youth leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide, condemned what he termed unprovoked arrest of youths in the area.
He said the Ohanaeze youth leadership under his watch had resolved to join hands with the youths of the community to put the ugly trend to a stop.
Okafor who hails from Ishiagu community thanked his people for the love shown to him through the civic reception.
Okafor: “I want to use this opportunity to advice those in the position of authority who derive joy in the imprisonment of the youths to desist henceforth. If you are a commissioner and the only achievement you will make is to imprison your brothers, you need to have a rethink.
“I condemn what is happening in Ishiagu, the unwarranted arrest of our youths. This is very strange, because it never happened before. Our people no longer sleep with their two eyes closed. And it’s being masterminded by our brother. It must stop. By the powers we have as the national youth leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo. This is the end of that harassment.”
Governor David Umahi who was represented at the occasion by the Executive Chairman of Ivo Local Government Area, Chief Onyebuchi Ogbadu, appealed to the members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the area to end all kinds of factionalization and unite as one family to be able to effectively confront the opposition political parties.
Umahi who enumerated some of the projects he had executed in the area, said his administration had tried and still trying to make life meaningful to Ishiagu people.
“Today, Ebonyi people have seen that Ishiagu is APC. If Ishiagu APC has produced this crowd and we know there are two groups here. And the government will not like that. Let all the groups collapse and unite, because unity is strength.
“No matter your differences, the government of Ebonyi State wants you to collapse and unite for the betterment of the party you professed to belong, the All Progressives Congress (APC). When you unite, I don’t see any PDP people challenging you here, because the timbers and calibers are here,” Umahi said.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Occasion, Chief James Aroh Nweke, said the event was organized to demonstrate that APC was on ground in the area and to celebrate the elevation of their son, Engr Damian Okafor, as the National Youth leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide.