Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, has told youths to enlist into the ongoing Nigeria Police Force, saying such a feat would help them to contribute to the security system and social economic advancement of the state.
He made the call during a sensitization meeting organised by the Police Service Commission (PSC) in Owerri, on Wednesday.
Uzodimma, who was represented by the Commissioner of Homeland Security and Vigilante Affairs, Dr. Ugorji O. Ugorji, stressed that having more persons in the police would increase the state’s future chances of leadership in the force, thanking the PSC for organising the program, calling on traditional and religious leaders to encourage youths especially those at the grassroots to enroll in the police force.
“There is great need to take advantage of the ongoing recruitment because the more qualified persons we get into this force, the better for us. We cannot afford to lose. Our youths are capable. We created the Ministry of Homeland Security in order to demonstrate our commitment to security of Imo people and streamline both federal and state security agencies for optimal results”, Uzodimma added.
Contributing, the PSC Commissioner representing South East, Mr. Onyemauche Nnamani, frowned at the nonchalant attitude of youths in the geo-political zone toward police recruitment”, charging South East governments to consider establishing a bureau for career development geared at sensitising the youth on the gains of being part of the nation’s military, police, paramilitary and civil service.
According to Nnamani, “there is compelling need to encourage brilliant, strong and courageous youths to join the police if we want protection and a safe state in the future”.
Just as the Imo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hussein Rabiu, urged youths to change their mindset toward the police and see the force as decent and well intended as this would encourage more persons to join the police force.
With the Director, Institute for Peace, Conflict and Development Studies, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Prof. Felix Asogwa, posited that available statistics showed that South East youths are allergic to police force enrollment.
“In the last recruitment, out of 81,005 applicants, only 7,652 came from the South-East, representing less than ten percent, indicating that we need to get more involved as the consequences of non-involvement can be disastrous”, Asogwa warned.
Chairman of Imo Traditional Rulers, HRH, Eze Emmanuel Okeke, who was represented by HRH, Eze Lucky Okoro, of Eziobodo autonomous community, called for a review of the police mode of employment and a return to the federal character system to encourage qualified applicants to effectively enlist into the police force.
