The whole leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide’s Youth Wing has denounced the arson attack on the Eze-Oke Nsu Ehime Mbano LGA facilities, blaming it on false information.
The initiative was denounced by some as a part of a complex and sinister scheme by the Nigerian government to deprive the communities of their ancestral lands and cultural legacy, which prompted the arson attack.
The Federal Government is allegedly intending to bring internally displaced people into Imo State from the Northern region of the country, thousands of kilometers away from their community and place of origin, according to the Igbo quarters.
However, following an on-the-spot evaluation of the facilities at Eze-Oke Nsu Ehime Mbano LGA by a delegation from the Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide youth wing, Mazi Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu, the acting Ohanaeze Youth Leader, expressed concern over how misinformation had resulted in the demise of a well-intended project.
He said the purpose of the visit was to ascertain the veracity of the various lies spread about the facility’s true intentions and evaluate the extent of the damage caused by the arson attack by as-yet-unidentified individuals.
The top Igbo youth leadership organization expressed disapproval at the devastation of what they called an extremely helpful resource center for young Igbo people due to false information.
While expressing dissatisfaction with the arsonists’ actions, Okpalaezeukwu clarified that the facilities in place could only have been used for the Igbo youths’ economic and educational empowerment.
He said, “It is depressing that a facility that is obviously intended to meet the educational and skill-acquisition needs of our youngsters may sustain such a degree of damage.
“There is not a single hint that this location was ever an IDP camp for the relocation of people, even though we are aware of what an IDP camp looks like.
“There isn’t a single residential building here. The only things we could discover here were educational institutions for our kids.
“We also witnessed numerous computers being destroyed that were ostensibly intended for computer-based assessments of our kids, and we categorically denounce this.”
The group also applauded Senator Hope Uzodinma, the governor of Imo State, for his dedication to strengthening the state’s youth.
We applaud Governor Uzodinma for his admirable plan to expand Igboland through coordinated efforts to support the growth and empowerment of young Igbo people.
“With his youth-friendly initiatives, we encourage him not to let up in his efforts to leave a stronger and brighter future for the next generation,” the group stated.
During the visit, Ohanaeze youth leadership received praise from Hon. Eric Uwakwe, Special Adviser to the Governor on Youth Affairs, for their bravery and initiative in being the first to visit the facility following the arson assault.
He gave them his word that the Imo State Government would not waver in its commitment to taking action to safeguard Imo people’s lives and property.
