The face-mending gestures of Imo state government towards youths in the state however turned sour at the weekend as a handsome largesse made available to them after an interactive session with the State Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumeer has erupted confusion and disagreement.
Following complaints from youth groups in the state that they were not considered in the scheme of things by the present administration, a meeting was arranged between the leadership of the various youth organization and the state government at the Government House.
At the end of the interactive session where the Deputy Governor presided and represented the interest of the state, a mutual accord and understanding was reached where Prince Madumere assured the youths of Governor Okorocha’s unflinching support in all their endeavours and unflinching commitment to respond to their complaints.
However, things turned from good to bad when a huge sum of money was made available to visiting youths as the ‘PR’ money meant to cover their transport fare caused serious disaffection. The amount said to be half a million caused uproar among the youths due to disagreements over modalities for sharing.
The modalities for sharing almost led to fisticuffs and free-for all fight when one of the youth leaders introduced a sharing measure that was vehemently rejected. Abusive languages and violent threats sprung up before the youths dispersed to their various ways.
Meanwhile, the leadership of the Imo Youth Assembly has commended the Deputy Governor, Prince Madumere for the wonderful initiative of holding a recent interactive session with organized youths in the state.
The apex youth body which comprises Orluzurumee Youth Assembly, Owerri Youth Assembly and Okigwe Youth Assembly disclosed that Prince Madumere’s action justifies the persistent agitations of the youth groups against their perceived relegation in the affairs of the state while blaming the Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Mr Kenneth Emelu for failing to use his office to galvanize the youth bodies. The group according to a statement from Comrade Precious Nwadike, “Our agitation is on principle and let no man consider it as fighting the Government, what is contained in their manifesto they have not engaged into action. While commending this gesture, we wish to state emphatically that the decisions reached at the interactive session should be implemented to the latter for the youths of Imo can no longer be taken for granted”.
