Group Hails Wike’s Plan For Ex-Cultists

The plan by the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike to train those granted amnesty in the state on agriculture has been described as a step in the right direction.
A non-governmental organisation, the South-South Youths Consultative, Enlightenment and Mobilisation Council, (SSYCEMOC) said training them on agriculture would boost food sufficiency, create employment and sustain peace in the state.
Its National Director of Publicity, Chris Nnodim told newsmen yesterday in Port Harcourt that because those granted amnesty were able-bodied youngmen, it was good to channel their energy to food production.
He said by so doing, there would be enough food and money for them, stressing that idleness is a factor which makes youths indulge in some of the anti-social activities such as cultism.
Nnodim, however, stressed the importance of equipping them with inputs and funds by the government at the end of the training.
He also advised that they should be closely monitored to ensure that they do not divert the funds into areas outside farming business as a way of sustaining the initiative.
The SSYCEMOC spokesman commended Governor Wike for the initiative and urged the beneficiaries to take full advantage of the opportunity provided by the governor to better their lives and never again go back to their former bad ways.
He further urged the governor to extend the programme to able-bodied youths who were not cultists, saying agriculture is so large a sector to accommodate as many youths as possible.

Chris Oluoh