…Charges Them To Shun Cultism, Other Vices
The quest for a lasting peace among youths of Omoku headquarters of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area (ONELGA) has received a boost with the reconciliation of the warring factions of youths in the area.
This is sequel to the appointment of Bro. Felix Obuah as Chairman of the Omoku Peace and Reconciliation Committee who successfully stimulated all the factions from the erstwhile Omoku Youths Association (OYA) to collapse into a rebranded Omoku Youth Federation (OYF) and constituted an expanded 23-man executive committee to run its affairs.
Just how did Mba Anabara Agu, as Obuah is fondly called, achieve the feat, one may ask.
First, it’s pertinent to state that not many admirers of Bro. Felix Obuah, who is the Rivers State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), know that he is a proud recipient of the State Government’s Justice of the Peace (JP) medal. Putting his ecclesiastical trait into the mix, it came natural that heading the peace committee is befitting and translates to putting a square peg in a square hole!
There is no gainsaying therefore that these attributes of the State PDP Chairman must have endeared into the heart of the ONELGA Chairman who thought, wisely though, that this onerous task should be placed on the shoulders of no other person but that of Bro. Felix Obuah, a peacemaker par excellence.
Putting the issues in context, the youths problem in Omoku was a knotty issue, a no-go area and every attempt at resolving it was clearly a wasted exercise, akin to pouring water into a dried up well!
The situation was said to have degenerated and worsened after former Council Chairman cancelled the youths election on the eve of the date fixed for the election.
Reports had it that this unilateral decision by the former Council Chairman of ONELGA was said to have incurred the ire of the youths, especially candidates who had expended resources to meet election obligations – forms purchased and other financial commitments. The resultant reaction snowballed into a crisis, made worse with the resignation of then Youth President, Comrade Kingsley Nonye Ogwumike.
This state of affair led to the crippling of youth activities in Omoku until Thursday, April 25, 2019 when ONELGA Council boss, Ambassador Victor Ifeanyi Odili took the bull by the horn to set up the Peace and Reconciliation Committee, with a 14-day mandate given for them to reconcile the warring youths of Omoku Town.
But rather than stretching the timeframe of the two weeks ultimatum given it by the ONELGA boss to discharge its task, Bro. Felix Obuah lived true to type by taking up the gauntlet and delivering on record time of three days!
While inaugurating the expanded 23-man Executive Committee of the rebranded Omoku Youth Federation (OYF) which has Hopeson Mezieuzor Ahiakwo as President, on Sunday, April 28, 2019 at Omoku, Chairman of the committee, Bro. Felix Obuah charged the youths to jettison their differences and work for the overall interest of Omoku Town.
He urged the youths to realize that they have no other town to call their own other than Omoku and emphasized the need for unity and peace among them.
Mba Anabara Agu expressed joy that all the warring factions have been reconciled and enjoined the youths to sustain the new sense of unity among them.
He also charged them to shun all forms of social vices including cultism and drug abuse, adding that such indulgences are dangerous tendencies tailored to keep them off the right tracks.
According to Obuah who is also the Sole Administrator of the Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA), no community can grow without peace and unity.
“Today brings to end all forms of bickering among the youths of Omoku. We had a divided house until this day, April 28, 2019. I commend your resolve to embrace peace and tow a common path for the good of the community. I urge you never again to allow your differences divide you”, Bro. Obuah said while advising the youth executives never to stay beyond the mandatory 3-year term which took effect on Wednesday, May 1, 2019.
In his speech at the occasion, the Executive Chairman of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area (ONELGA), Amb. Victor Ifeanyi Odili commended the youths for towing the path of peace and urged them to keep up the tempo.
The ONELGA Council boss who emphasized that a peaceful environment remains the bedrock of any meaningful development, added that youth as leaders of tomorrow should drive the process.
Ambassador Odili specially commended Bro. Felix Obuah and the Peace and Reconciliation Committee for a job well done.
“It is heartwarming to note that this Committee under the able leadership of Bro. Felix Obuah was given 14 days for the onerous task but within 5 days they have restored peace in Omoku Youth Federation”, he said while soliciting full cooperation among the youths to move not just Omoku Town but the rest of ONELGA forward.
He further urged the youths to work in concert with the OSPAC and ensure not to take the laws into their hands, adding that the LGA was ready to welcome all those who ran away and are now ready to turn a new leaf.
“We are using this medium to call on all those who are ready to repent to come back home and join the move to rebuild Omoku. I am not a cult member and I will not tolerate any one who will be a problem to our community. We will not tolerate another ‘Don Wani’ in Omoku”, said the Council boss.
A member of the Omoku Peace and Reconciliation Committee and Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Prince Peter Odike in his speech, said he was elated at the turn of events and urged the youths to keep the flag flying.
He advised the youths to embrace the spirit of peace and unity without which the community will never move forward.
The youth president of Omoku Youth Federation, Hopeson Mezieuzor Ahiakwo appreciated the chairman of the peace and reconciliation committee, Bro Felix Obuah on the peaceful resolution of the crisis that bedeviled Omoku Youths. He called the State and Federal Governments to give the attention to Omoku in the areas of development and employment of the people.
Other members of the Omoku Youth Federation include Okoro Shadrack (1st Vice President); Eluo Onyekachi (2nd Vice President); Ossai Eze Ossai (General Secretary); Orike Ndubuisi (Assistant General Secretary) Emmanuel Jindu Jackson (Public Relations Officer); Ogbowu Abraham (Financial Secretary) and Jonah Felix A (Treasurer).
Others are Onyige Stanley (Organizing Secretary); Jumbo Goodluck (Provost); Elouzu Emelike (Assistant Organizing Secretary) and Chingozi Eke (Assistant Provost) amongst others.
