By Victor Nwegede, Abakaliki.
The Commander Neighborhood Watch Security, Ebonyi State Command, Prince Victor Chibuoyi Nwenyi, has advised the citizens of the state, especially the youths, to avoid crime-related activity during this festive period.
Nwenyi who stated this while interacting with journalists in Abakaliki, the state capital, urged Ebonyi people to observe the 2024 Christmas celebration peacefully and be contented with what they have during the festival period.
"It is important to remind Ebonyi people, especially the youth, that this is not the last Christmas in their life, because this event is observed every year to mark the birthday of Jesus Christ.
"Anybody who didn't succeed buying anything of his choice for the festival will succeed in buying it next year, by God's grace. I urge everyone to celebrate peacefully and no matter what anyone takes; for instance, alcohol, we need to drink responsibly.
"People should avoid the crime related activities, shun too much intake of alcohol and reckless driving, and see this period as a time for reconciliation, making good friends and connections, especially in our various towns as our relatives and friends come back home to observe this festival.
"Most importantly, I urge the youths to keep off from anything knock out, because it's a dangerous threat to humans and our environment."
He assured that the personnel of the command would be at the strategic points to protect the lives and properties of people throughout the festival period in the state.
"Christmas day is one of the days when the people we are serving need our duties most, and therefore, the Neighoood Watch security operatives must be at the strategic points, and report to the appropriate quarters if need be, among other things.
"Our priority is to maintain peace in the various communities in Ebonyi State. My charge to the Neighborhood Watch personnel is that the security of lives and properties must be assured in every part of Ebonyi State," he charged.
He further advised the citizens of the state, especially the youths to learn relevant skills that can make them self-reliant.
"When the Ebonyi youths summit took place in Abakaliki, I tried to let youths know that they have societal value. This is important because it's high time Ebonyi youths think of what they can offer to the state rather than thinking about what the state can offer to them. It's shameful for a mature youth to come out early in the morning and begin to shout that the government has not done anything for him or her.
"Your concern as a youth should be what have I offered to the state? Do I have any value for the benefit of humanity, or I'm just a liability? I advised my fellow youths that we must strive to have other handiwork, even as a graduate. We should think of going into learning mechanics, carpentry work, welding, and other self-sustenance skills.
"You must not always need government as a citizen but know what you are capable of offering to the society. For instance, if you are known as the best carpenter in Ebonyi State, you can win a contract to construct desks, tables, and other valuables a carpenter can produce in Ebonyi State. If you become the best mechanic, you can be given a contract to maintain the government vehicles in Ebonyi State.
"But if you continue going around boasting you have an academic certificate and you have no single skill, you will see the government cannot engage everybody in its activities.
"This is obtainable in the Western world because there's no how government can engage everybody. It's very important to have a societal value because an idle mind is a devil's workshop. If you are thinking about having your three square meals in a day, you walk around, you joke around, you must think of having a handiwork, what you can do on your own for the betterment of society. I have seen that most of the crimes in society were products of idleness. I encourage my fellow youths to go into artisan works amongst other things."
Nwenyi, also the Board of Trustee Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, FON Movement recalled that during the 2024 Ebonyi youths summit, declared support for Governor Francis Nwifuru's eight years in office, following his impactful leadership, especially in empowering the youthful in the academic, and business and leadership wise.
"As we openly declared on that day, there's no vacancy in the government house of Ebonyi State, I don't think there's any chance because our governor has done marvelously well, especially in empowering youth. People whom the governor gave appointment are majorly the youths, those benefiting from his scholarship, and empowerment programs, among other sociopolitical and economic interventions are majorly the youths."
