Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State has expressed regrets at the looting of four banks, burning down of Onions Market, police station, burning down
Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State has expressed regrets at the looting of four banks, burning down of Onions Market, police station, burning down of 18 brand new trucks belonging to an indigene among others.
The governor said that what was faced in Abia was not #EndSARS protesters but a well-orchestrated plot by strange youths from outside the state to take Abia years back in terms of development. He said their actions everywhere shook the fragile unity of the nation, adding that Igbos contribute about 80 per cent of GDP in Lagos alone and do various businesses in the North and other parts of the country.
Governor Ikpeazu, who disclosed that his administration has done great in empowering youths in the State from 2015 to date, including having 60 per cent of his cabinet drawn from that section of the population, ensuring LGA elections are held to include them in leadership, an institution of a Homeland Security outfit with 300 security agents trained, employment of 500 persons in TIMASS, the establishment of E4E with 3,400 youths on the database and linking up of youths to federal government empowerment programmes among, others, commiserated with those who lost their lives in the protests.
The governor then called on all stakeholders to deploy everything within their powers to appeal to the youths to desist from wanton destruction of public and private property as the government has noted their grievances and is taking steps to address them. The Governor stated this while speaking at a special non-partisan stakeholders town hall meeting convened to foster peace in Abia State in the face of peaceful protests by Nigerian youths whose well-intended protest was hijacked by criminal elements who went on destroying public and private property.
He said the essence of the meeting was to bring the stakeholders up to speed with what has befallen Abia State as a result of the recent protests and to chart the way forward.
