#EndSARS: Ex-lawmaker mobilises youth to ‘secure investments’ in Uyo

Youth leaders across Akwa Ibom state have risen to reciprocate efforts of government in preventing further looting in Uyo, the state capital, after the violent #EndSARS protest.

This follows appeals of Udom Emmanuel, the governor,  in his broadcast after widespread looting and burning of public and private property in Uyo.

Convener of the meeting, Monday Eyoh, who is the chairman of Local Government Service Commission in Akwa Ibom, said it is crucial to call all youth representatives from the 14 wards making up Uyo local government area, to analyse the situation and brainstorm on ways to protect property and investments in the state capital against hoodlums.

The meeting which held on Sunday, had in attendance Uwemedimo Udo, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flagbearer for the coming Uyo LGA chairmanship race; Emmanuel Sam, special assistant to the governor on local media; all councillors in the LGA, all supervisors in the LGA, and youth leaders from the 14 wards in the LGA and others.

In his remarks, Eyoh, who served as the member representing Uyo state constituency in the sixth assembly, thanked youth for responding despite such a short notice.

He said the violence that erupted following the #Endsars protest and subsequent destruction of private and public property were unfortunate and condemnable.

He thanked the youths of Uyo for exercising restraint during the violence and for assisting the police recover items looted from business concerns in the state capital.

He, however, noted that youths won’t close their eyes while investments in the metropolis get plundered.

“We can’t close our eyes as aliens put knives to our necks. We are here to discuss how to prevent a recurrence of such violent and barbaric acts of arson and looting of businesses because if violence continues and we are pushed out of our homes where will we go?” he asked

“I’m urging perpetrators of these widespread acts of violence to put an end to this hooliganism. We will not allow people come to raze down private and public property in Uyo.

“I wish to inform you that these category of workers have been reinstated therefore starting from November 1, about 200 of them will be recalled and then by January 1, 2023 another 200 will start work.”

In his vote of thanks, Sam, commended the youths for such a massive turnout despite the short notice of the meeting.

He thanked the governor for setting a template to keep the state on a peaceful and progressive path, noting that his timely response to the crisis by imposing a curfew and addressing the state helped a great deal in quelling the carnage and giving hope to a state that was so traumatized by the violent attacks.

Sam, commended Eyoh for his spontaneity in initiating a process to sustain the peace that Uyo is known for and for always putting the interest of the people first.

He used the opportunity to thank the youths for rising up to defend investments in the city, saying these investments have provided jobs to indigenes and that in order to encourage more investors to invest in the city, there must be concerted efforts to ensure the safety of their investments.