Unemployment and political gang-up have been identified as two key elements fueling insecurity in the country.
Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State said both factors which are also linked to poverty can be dealt with if concerted efforts are made at providing employment for the teeming unemployed youth and if the politicians accept defeat in good faith after election.
The Governor spoke when members of the Course 30 of the National Defence College, Abuja on study tour of Imo State led by Deputy Commandant and Director of Studies, Major-Gen. Emeka Victor Onumajuru paid him a working visit at the Government House, Owerri on Thursday.
Addressing the team at the new Executive Chamber Government House, Owerri, Governor Uzodimma thanked the participants for their choice of Imo for the study as well as for deeming it fit to show solidarity with his government despite insinuations of large scale insecurity in the State.
The Governor assured his guests that Imo State is now peaceful and lauded the role and resilience of the security agencies in dealing with insecurity, especially those who paid the supreme price in the process of securing the state.
Uzodimma explained that the fight against insecurity requires joint and concerted efforts by all the States in the country and the Federal Government, emphasizing that “insecurity in one State or zone will no doubt snowball into insecurity in other States and zones.”
He said the State has the largest oil palm plantation in the country, which is the Adapalm, informing the visitors that the strength of the State lies in her human capital (education), believed to be the largest industry in the Imo.
He said it is in recognition of the value the people attach to education that his administration has, within a short period, established two Universities – University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences Umuagwo and Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe University in Ideato South Local Government Area of Imo State.
Earlier in his speech, Major-Gen. Onumajuru said the visit was part of the Participants’ Study Tour and that the essence is for the participants to “understand the socio-political conditions and environment of the entire country- Nigeria.”
He said to achieve the above the course participants would cover the entire country in six States where each of the six teams will make a presentation of what they observed, experienced and gathered from the different parts of the country.
