The Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti,has underscored his administration’s unwavering commitment to eradicating all forms of crime and criminality in the state.
Governor Otti made this known on Tuesday, while declaring open, a One Day Sensitization Campaign Against Cultism And Drug Addiction In Nigeria organized by the Abia State Orientation Agency.
The Governor who condemned the alarming trend of crime among youths under the grip of illicit substances, emphasized that no level of substance abuse could justify criminal actions.
Gov Otti with his Deputy, Engr Ikechukwu Emetu
He noted that his administration is single minded about rooting out crime and criminality to ensure that Abia remains safe for citizens and visitors alike.
“Armed robbery, kidnapping, abductions, violent crimes and banditry have been related and associated very closely with cultism and drug addiction.
“Today, alot of our young ones have involved themselves in consuming illicit substances that makes them behave abnormally.
“No amount of alcoholism, drug addiction or whatever it is that you have consumed will justify any action that you have taken that is against the law. And for us, we are single minded about rooting out crime and criminality to ensure that our state is safe for our citizens and our visitors”, the Governor stated.
A cross section of participants at the event
The Governor who described the sensitization campaign by the State Orientation Agency as imperative noted that there is need to educate citizens on the implication of cultism and drug addiction.
“I believe this sensitization campaign is absolutely in order. We want to educate you and expose you to implications of some of these actions that lead to other actions that would lead us to a reaction that you may not like”.
He therefore urged participants of the programme to take the campaign seriously inorder to help spread awareness of the dangers associated with cultism and drug addiction.
In his Goodwill Message, the Inspector General of Police,Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, represented by DCP Sani Shuaibu noted with regret the prevalence cultism and drug addiction among youths.
The IGP pledged the readiness of the Nigerian Police Force to synergize with other sister security agencies and the Abia State Government to fight the menace of cultism and drug.
Pastor Dike Nwankwo
Earlier in his address, the Director General, Abia State Orientation Agency, Pastor Dike Nwankwo noted that the programme is aimed at sensitizing and reorientating Abians, especially the youths on the dangers of cultism and drug addiction. He highlighted the dangers associated with cultism and drug addiction and maintained that the campaign would bring about a cross fertilization of ideas and profer solutions to the menace of cultism and drug addiction.
Delivering a keynote lecture on the topic,”Building a New Abia Through a Responsible Citizenship” the Vice Chancellor, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Prof. Maduebibisi Iwe identified the challenges confronting youths to include unemployment , inadequate revenue generation, weak industrial base.
Prof Iwe stressed the need for responsible citizenship by all, especially the youths and emphasised that everyone has a duty to be a responsible citizen.
He commended Governor Otti for his proactive approach in the fight against cultism, drug addiction, and criminality in Abia State.
