Conversation started today 10:58am Oshie Emmanuel VOICE OVER AT THE HEIGHT OF THE STRUGGLE FOR FAIR AND EQUITABLE RESOURCE ALLOCATION, YOUTHS IN THE NIGER DELTA RESORTED TO ARMED AGITATION AS AN EXPRESSION OF THEIR FRUSTRATION OVER THE NEGLECT OF THE REGION DESPITE THE FACT THAT NIGERIA DEPENDS ON THAT REGION FOR ITS ECONOMIC SURVIVAL. THOUGH THE AGITATING YOUTHS LATER LAID DOWN THEIR ARMS AND EMBRACED THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT’S AMNESTY ON AUGUST 22, 2009, MANY HAVE REASONED THAT THE SITUATION SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO DEGENERATE TO VIOLENT PROTEST. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT’S AMNESTY PROVIDES A COMPONENT THAT SEEKS TO INTEGRATE THE EX-MILITANTS INTO SOCIETY. BY IT, THE YOUTHS ARE GIVEN USEFUL SKILLS THAT MAKE THEM FUNCTIONAL AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE ECONOMY. HOWEVER THERE HAVE BEEN GRUMBLINGS AND SOME TIMES OPEN PROTESTS THAT THESE FACILITIES HAVE BEEN EXTENDED TO THOSE YOUTHS IN THE URBAN AREAS, LEAVING OUT THEIR COLLEAGUES IN THE CREEKS AND REMOTE COMMUNITIES. TO ADDRESS THIS SEEMING INEQUITY IN INTEGRATING EX-MILITANTS AT EVERY LEVEL OF THE SOCIETY INTO A PRODUCTIVE WORK FORCE, THE EUROPEAN UNION IS PARTNERING A NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATION, “SEARCH FOR COMMON GROUND” TO ESTABLISH INFORMATION RESOURCE CENTERS IN SIX COMMUNITIES IN BAYELSA, DELTA AND RIVERS STATES. THESE CENTERS ARE DESIGNED TO COMPLEMENT OTHER SKILL ACQUISITION EFFORTS OF THE AMNESTY PROGRAMME. (TRACK UP) IN ADDITION TO THE CENTERS AT THE OPOROZA IN BARAMATU KINGDOM OF WARRI SOUTH WEST LOCAL COUNCIL AND KOKO IN WARRI NORTH COUNCIL, THERE ARE THOSE IN KAIMA IN KOLOKUMA/OPOKUMA COUNCIL AND AMASSOMA IN SOUTHERN IJAW COUNCIL OF BAYELSA STATE. (TRACK UP) OTHER BENEFICIARY COMMUNITIES INCLUDE ABAM AMA, AN OKIRIKA COMMUNITY AND THEIR KPOR NEIGBBORS IN GOKANA COUNCIL AREA OF RIVERS STATE. (TRACK UP) BY THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THESE RESOURCE CENTERS, THE EUROPEAN UNION AND THE SEARCH FOR COMMON GROUND, THROUGH THE “TOMORROW IS A NEW DAY” INITIATIVE ARE ADDRESSING THE CHALLENGE OF SKILL ACQUISITION FACILITIES TO THE YOUTH. BEYOND THAT HOWEVER IS THE GREATER BENEFIT OF RESOLUTION OF CONTFLICT WHICH COULD ARISE FROM ANY PERCEPTION THAT ONE SET OF EX-MILITANTS ARE BEING GIVING A PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT. WHAT MATTERS NOW IS HOW WELL OTHER INTEREST GROUPS AND ORGANISATIONS WILL CUE INTO THIS INITIATIVE TO BRING SUCCOUR TO MORE OF THE YOUTHS IN OTHER LIKELY VOLATILE AREAS IN THE COUNTRY. OVIETEME GEORGE, AIT NEWS YENOGOA
Posted on: Mon, 09 Sep 2013 18:26:37 +0000
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