In its determination to stem the tide of youths restiveness and incessant cult killings in Edo State, the group under the aegis of Edo Youths Peace Coalition (EYPC), has gone round four Local Government Areas in the state to sensitise the people on the need to be agents of peace at all times.
The EYPC opined that it is resolved amongst the over six interest groups that make up the Coalition to ensure there is peace in the state is not negotiable, hence, its peaceful rally across the various local government areas.
Local Government Areas visited by the coalition were Oredo, Egor, Ovia South-East, Ikpoba-Okha, Uhunmwande as major centres like Uselu, Oliha, Ogida, Useh, Textile Mill Road, Uselu, Oluku, New Benin, Aduwawa, Ramat Park, Agbor Park Ikheuniro, 3rd junction, Upper Sakponba, Satana Market, Agip/ Country Home Road and Ugbor in the areas benefited from Edo Youths Peace Coalition.
Speaking with journalists at Agbor Park during the rally, the Secretary of the Coalition, Engr. Dinero Imade said that the rally was informed by the need to continuously sensitive the populace on why peace should reign supreme in Edo.
He maintained that the Edo Youths Peace Coalition is for all in the state irrespective of individuals’ backgrounds and beliefs, adding that their effort is to join hands with the state government in its peace drive in the state.
“We have come together as a rainbow body to warm whoever that is is bringing issues that will lead to unnecessary conflicts to desist from it as we will not hesitate to hold the person and hand him over to law enforcement agencies.
“But we need the support of government including the judicial and other stakeholders in the state as the fight against drug abuse, cultism, and other heinous crimes should be fought collectively.
“We believe at the end of the day, peace will reign in Edo State. This rally is going to be a continuous process until the aims and objectives are achieved and even after that, we will still continue to enlighten the youths on peace building in the state”
Engr. Imade disclosed that aside from the road sensitisation rally, the coalition has equally lined up other activities that include unity football competition amongst youths of various interests as ways to further sensitise the people.
“This competition will be played across the state and it is our resolve that we can’t keep having killings and youth restiveness in Edo which multiplier effects are the avoidable widows, orphans, and fatherless children in the state.
While commending the people for for keying into the ideology of the coalition thus far, the Coalition Secretary, however, appealed to the people to help spread the message of the Coalition to the nooks and crannies of the state.
On his part, Mr Peter Okoh, added that the essence of the rally is to bring peace and stability to the state, adding that the state as the heartbeat of the country needs all-round peace and development.
“What we want to achieve as a coalition is to eradicate drug abuse, communal violence cult related killings and activities, cyberbullying, and others among the people.
“So many cult-related killings have resulted in many young widows in the state, youths are dying at their young age and even drug abuse leads to untimely death. So, I am calling on Edo Youths to join hands with the coalition towards making the state greater.
Also speaking, one of the conveners who identified himself simply as Osayi said: “we are coming together as a body to say no to negative usage of energy in Edo State anymore. We must use our energy to better the state irrespective of colours, tribe, religion and race. We must move Edo State forward”
