The youth wing of the apex Igbo socio cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has advocated progressive ranching laws in the Southeast and other parts of Nigeria to permanently address the constant farmers herders crisis. The acting national youth leader of Ohanaeze, Mazi Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu, made the call during a briefing at the just-concluded Igbo Youth Leaders and Stakeholders Convention that was held at Nike Lake Hotel, Enugu.
Okpalaezeukwu informed the convention commended the Enugu Assembly for pioneering the enactment of public ranching bill and urged other States, especially in the Southeast to toe the same path.
Okpalaezeukwu commended President Bola Tinubu for appointing a vibrant youth leader, Comrade Ayodele Olawande as the Minister of State for Youth Development, whom he said participated in the convention.
He said, “We appreciate the Hon Minister of State for Youth Development for his immense intellectual contributions towards the success of the convention.
“Finally, the convention unanimously passed a vote of confidence on the President- General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Chief Dr Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu CFR, and the acting National Youth leader Mazi. Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu for the good works they are doing for the Igbo nation.
“We salute the courage of the governors of the Southeast in curbing the menace of insecurity in the region, however, we urge them to inculcate the Igbo youth in the security structure of their various states.”
The Ohanaeze youth leader also told journalists that the convention acknowledged the unparalleled patriotic contributions of Igbo businessmen and investors in diverse fields of the economy since inception.
He, however, stated that they seriously condemn the continued unwarranted destruction of Igbo businesses and investments across Nigeria by state and non-state actors.