Our Correspondent
Anambra State Elders’ Council has condemned incessant crimes in the state, saying that the empowerment of youths can be an antidote to youth involvement in crimes.
The council enjoined traditional rulers and Presidents-General of communities and other stakeholders, to ensure their youths imbibe the right values and avoid destructive vices like violence and drug abuse.
They gave the charge while reading their communiqué after their meeting at the Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia.
The communiqué was signed by the Chairman of the Council, who was also a former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, and the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu, and Council commended Gov. Obiano for his various legacy projects.
“The meeting acknowledged that the Citizens of Anambra State successfully and transparently voted in the gubernatorial elections held on Nov. 6, 2021.
It also congratulated the state government, the Independent National Electoral Commission, the law-enforcement agencies, and all those organisations and citizens who combined to ensure that the results of the election reflected the wishes of the Citizens of the State.
“The meeting also congratulated the Governor-elect Prof. Chukwuma Soludo on his outstanding electoral victory.
“It noted that to have won with such overwhelming number of votes in 19 of the 21 Local Government Areas of the state was a clear and undisputable endorsement by the people of the state.
“The Council after an in-depth deliberation of the current security challenges decided that to address the increasing security crisis in the state, advice that traditional rulers of various communities and President’s-General, as well as religious leader and all the stakeholders to ensure that the youth imbibe the right values in order avoid destructive vices like violence and drug abuse.
“Reflecting on the prospective change of baton at the Apex of the state governance on March 17, the Council welcomed the fact that the state will be passing from an administration that is leaving behind it an admirable legacy, to a new dawn that is pregnant with great expectations and high hopes that the development of the state and the welfare of the citizens will be taken to the next level by the incoming administration of Prof. Soludo.’’
Earlier, while thanking the elders for the advice and support which had aided his administration in many ways, Gov. Obiano recalled the vision and mission statements of his administration which he said he had lived and worked with.
He emphasized: “Anambra is an oil-producing state with 15 wells, saying that it gives him the confidence that the next 13 per cent derivation will come to the state’’.
He cast his mind back to some of the strides his administration recorded in agriculture including current rice production of about 500,000 metric tonnes, dry season farming, as well as advancements in the education sector.
The Governor added that his administration successfully completed 137 roads, 20 bridges, an Airport completed in 15 months; expressing confidence in the ability of the Governor-Elect to do more when he comes onboard. (MOI)
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