Amaechi Okonkwo | Port Harcourt
Ahead of the rescheduled March 18 governorship and House of Assembly elections in Rivers State, youths in the state have held a one-day summit for a peaceful election in the state.
The summit was organised by Rivers-for-Rivers Network in conjunction with the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Rivers State chapter.
Chairman of the occasion and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Sir Tony Okocha, in his remarks charged youths in the state, especially those of Rivers origin to take their destiny in their hands.
He urged them to rise up and uphold the visions of the founding fathers of the state and not to betray it, saying that their dream was for a peaceful, free and prosperous state.
Okocha, who was chairman of the occasion described the theme of the programme; “Linking the future of youths of Rivers State to the dreams of our founding fathers” as apt, succinct and auspicious.
“Every Generation has a vision, you either uphold it or you betray it”, he declared and demanded to know from the youths what their vision was in the various spheres of human endeavour and whether it was in synch with the dreams of the founding fathers of the state.
He stated that the way the youth could take control of their destiny was not by being violent or lawless but that it will require the mobilisation of youths to intellectually conscientise them to the realities of the moment and juxtapose those with the dreams of the founding fathers of the state.
“As youths which constitute the most potent force in any society, we must stand up to our responsibilities.
“The hottest place in hell is prepared for that youth of Rivers State who in the glaring face of oppression, intimidation, colonisation in whatever form, invasion and flagrant attempt to undermine our humanity by centrifugal forces, internal or external, decide to be indifferent”, Okocha said.
Chairman, National Youth Council Of Nigeria (NYCN), Rivers State chapter, Chijioke Ihunwo, charged the youth not to vote for greedy politicians in the forthcoming governorship and house of assembly elections.
In his remarks, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth Development, Dr. Roland White, who represented the commissioner raise the awareness of the youth to their potential and power, saying they have the capacity to decide the future of the state capitalising on the coming governorship election.
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