Youth group, Kpakpaji Youth Assembly has assured of their readiness to partner Ebonyi state Government and relevant stakeholders to eradicate the menace of cult-related activities and other ills to enthrone permanent peace, unity and development in the Ezza South Local Government Area of the state.
President General Kpakpaji Youth Assembly, Comrade Sunday Nwali popularly known as Smano, disclosed this on Tuesday when he led the leadership of the group to a courtesy visit on the Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ebonyi State Council, Comrade Samson Nwafor at his office, Dr Sam Egwu Press Center, Abakaliki.
Comrade Nwali decried the high level of disunity among his people and called on the youths to form a common front to restore peace, unity and development in the area.
"There has been a high level of disunity among the youths. The youths lack the unity and the common front to achieve any of their objective and that's why we deemed it fit to revitalize this organization. We strongly believe that with this Association, we can solve our problems. We're faced with arrays of problems and with the help of this Association, we can solve it. The most important thing is to achieve unity and when unity is achieved, I believe those problems will be solved.
"We made sure that none of our members is a member of any cult group in Ezza South.
"The truth remains that we fought this menace in 2005 in Ameka and that's why in Ameka there's no record of any cult clash, then, I was the senior prefect of CSS Ameka and we formed an anti-cult group where all the members of every family that is not a member of any cult came together and we championed that course and till today, the legacy of that very time is still with us. Since 2005 till today, there has never been any cult clash in Ameka and I will replicate the same in Ezza South through this Association, "he stated.
On whether the association has any political undertone, Nwali said: "As Kpakpaji youth organization, politics is not far from it because every human being is a political animal and we can not deny any member of our group his right because every single person is qualified to contest for any position and if the person is qualified, we will support the person.
In his response, the State NUJ Chairman, Comrade Samson Nwafor, Commended the Youth for championing the course of peace and development in Ezza South and most especially, for supporting the peace efforts of the state Governor, Rt Hon Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru and assured them of the support of his office whenever it's needed.
"I commend you for coming to see me. Aside from being an indigene of Kpakpaji, I am also a Youth and seeing the calibre of youths in this Assembly, I think it is worth belonging. It is worth belonging because these are people who want the peace, unity and development of Ezza South, Ezza Nation and Ebonyi state in general.
"I am very happy for not allowing this Association to die in the hands of the past leaders but you picked up the Association. In your speech, I deduced that this Assembly stands for peace, development unity and a voice against ills of the society. For the Ezza people particularly in Ezza South, cultism has dealt with us and for youths to come together to fight issues of this nature, you deserve encouragement from all quarters, both from the Government and individuals.
"I want to thank you for the support you're giving to the State Government because anybody that knows each of you will agree with me that you're the ones truly supporting the present Government of Rt Hon Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru because when you're preaching peace, when you're preaching development it means you're supporting the Government because the Government is interested in peace and development of the people and that's what our Governor is doing and all we need to do as a people is to support him. Let's join hands together and make things work well. If we have similar groups in other places it means there won't be room for those that cause trouble to exist again.
"I so much cherish what you people are doing and as members of the Fourth Estate of the Realm, we are in good working relationship with the Government and you're equally supporting the Government; so, I assure you that we are going to support your organization. Any time you need our services or our guidance, call on us."
