by The Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti says his administration is single minded about routing out crime and criminality in Abia State to ensure that Abia remains safe.
Governor Otti stated this while declaring open, a one day sensitization campaign against cultism and drug addiction in Nigeria, organized by the Abia State Orientation Agency.
According to the Governor, “No amount of alcoholism, drug addiction or whatever it is that you have consumed will justify any action that you have taken that is against the law. And for us, we are single minded about rooting out crime and criminality and ensure that our state is safe for our citizens and our visitors.”
He said that the campaign is imperative as there is need to educate all about the implication of cultism and drug addiction.
“I believe this sensitization campaign is absolutely in order. We want to educate you and expose you to implications of some of these actions that lead to other actions that would lead us to a reaction that you may not like.”
The state Chief Executive Officer also regretted that,
“We have people today pulling themselves together and inflicting injury, hurt, hatred and even killing fellow human beings. There is never anytime you can justify it. Armed robbery, kidnapping, abductions, violent crimes and banditry have been related and associated very closely with cultism and drug addiction.”
Governor Otti advised the participants of the programme to take it seriously in order to impact on others, the dangers of cultism and drug addiction.
In his goodwill message, the Inspector General of police, kayode Egbetokun, represented by DCP Sani Shuaibu, described the campaign against cultism and drug addiction as timely and commendable as
youths have fallen victim to cultism and drug addiction.
The IGP assured that the police is ready to synergize with other sister agencies and the Abia State Government to fight the menace of cultism and drug addiction.
Earlier in his address, the Director General, Abia State Orientation Agency, Pastor Dike Nwankwo noted that the programme is aimed at sensitizing and reorientating Abians, especially the youths on the dangers of cultism and drug addiction.
He highlighted the dangers associated with cultism and drug addiction and maintained that the campaign would bring about a cross fertilization of ideas and proffer solutions to the menace of cultism and drug addiction.
Delivering a keynote lecture on the topic, “Building a New Abia Through a Responsible Citizenship” the Vice Chancellor, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Prof. Maduebibisi Iwe identified the challenges confronting youths to include unemployment, inadequate revenue generation, weak industrial base.
He stressed the need for responsible citizenship by all, especially the youths and emphasised that everyone has a duty to be a responsible citizen while appreciating Governor Otti for the approach he is taking in the fight against cultism, drug addiction and criminality in Abia State.
