From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
The Dean, Faculty of social sciences, National Open University of Nigeria, Abuja, Prof. Moses Shaibu Over the Weekend in Lokoja called for the National reconciliation and repentance forum with stakeholders to curb the rising wave of insecurity in the society.
Prof. Shaibu who made the remarks over the weekend at the end of the year get-together and awards ceremony of ‘Ome Like Minds,’ held at Lokoja, Kogi state capital said there must be repentance by the offenders before reconciliation and forgiveness.
Prof. Shaibu in a lecture tittles, ‘Security and Community Development’ delivered at the occasion said the security challenges of Egume deserve urgent attention to enhance peaceful and infrastructural development of Egume Community.
He attributed the rising wave of security threats in the society to lack of employment and I don’t care attitude of stakeholders and wealthy individuals towards the welfare of youth and the people of their community.
Shaibu stressed the need for a reconciliation and repentance forum for both political factions and criminality allegations so as to enhance socio economic development of Egume Community.
Earlier, the National President of Egume Ome Descendants Union, Alhaji Mohammed Lawal Ibrahim who also chair the occasion stressed the need for a collaborative efforts in the area to curb Youth restiveness.
Alhaji Ibrahim, one of the awardees reiterated his determination to put more efforts in improving the leaving standard of the people at the grassroots level.
He attributed the rising wave of criminality in the society today to poverty, peer groups, lack of home training and lukewarm attitude of some parents towards educational training of their children.
In his remarks, one of the awardees, Comrade Godwin Meliga promised to use his “Godwin Meliga Foundation” to empower the youth and support children’s education in his constituency.
In order to reduce the insecurity level in Egume Community and its environs, Comrade Meliga promised to hold a pre- Yuletide stakeholders’ meeting with the youth groups, Madakis and Gagos to curb their excessiveness.
The president of Ome Like Minds, Comrade Sunday Omale pointed out that their contributions towards the development of Egume and the growth of the Lokoja branch of EODU cannot be quantified adding “We shall not relent in our efforts to contribute towards maintenance of peace in the land”.
He therefore appreciated the National President of EODU, Alhaji Mohammed Lawal Ibrahim and other invited guests for honouring their invitation adding that ‘Ome Like Minds’ group will reciprocate towards sustenance of their contribution to the development of Egume Community.
