Abia govt directs mayors, monarchs to mobilize youths

The Abia State Government has directed all 17 mayors, traditional rulers and Presidents-General of communities in the state to instantly embark on mass mobilisation of youths to fill the state’s quota in the ongoing police recruitment.

The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, in a statement, regretted that the state’s allocation in the ongoing police recruitment exercise has been grossly underutilized.

The statement read in part, “Regrettably too, about 700 candidates invited for interview in the ongoing recruitment exercise are yet to show up.

“To this end, Governor Alex Otti has directed all local government mayors, chairmen of Traditional Rulers Councils and their members in all the LGAs, Presidents-General of town unions and community leaders to immediately mobilize their youths for this very important exercise to ensure that the state’s quota is filled.”

In a quick reaction, the former Chairman of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state, Senator Emman Nwaka, lauded Otti for the move.

The 3rd Republic Senator condemned the detachment of Abia youths in recruitment into military and paramilitary agencies.

He suggested the introduction of little incentives to attract the youths as well as the engagement of retired servicemen to sensitize the youths on the benefits of the service.

He said: “Your Excellency, I welcome your efforts to encourage Abians to fill our quota in the recruitment exercise of the police, army, immigration, and the rest of them. The aloofness of our youths is worrisome.”