Turn A New Leaf & Be Responsible To The Society – Gov. Otti To Cultists, Drug Addicts

The Executive governor of Abia State, Dr Alex Otti, OFR, has admonished Cultists and drug addicts to turn a new leaf and become useful to the society.

The governor made the call while flagging off a one-day sensitisation campaign on cultism and drug addiction, organised by the Abia State Orientation Agency (ABSOA) on Tuesday, at the Michael Okpara auditorium in Umuahia, the state capital.

Otti noted that no amount of alcoholism nor drug abuse will justify any criminal action, restating that his administration is committed in rooting out crime and insecurity from Abia state.

Speaking earlier, the Director General, ABSOA, Pastor Dike Nwankwo regretted that a large number of youths who should have been great leaders and models to the society and their families, have been damaged by drug abuse and cultism.

Nwankwo noted that governor Otti in line with his transformation agenda, saw the need to drive a paradigm shift in behavioural patterns, re-orientation of members of the society, hence the creation of ABSOA and the sensitation campaign.

He called on all to join hands in the fight against cultism and drug abuse to save the future of vulnerable youths.

In his address, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayoed Egbetokun, represented by the Deputy commissioner of police SCID Umuahia, DSP Sani Shaibu, Lauded ABSOA for hosting the sensitation program which he said was timely and imperative as the war against cultism and drug abuse is ongoing in the country.

He lamented that many youths have endangered their future owing to drug abuse and cultism .

“Cultism and drug abuse makes our children vulnerable to a lot of influences as a result of their psychological, mental and physical disposition and they are easily lured into negative activities” the IGP stated.

He listed lack of self esteem, acquisition of power syndrome, revenge and others as reasons why most people engage in cultism and drug abuse.

The IGP assured that the police is ready to synergise with other sister agencies in contacting criminal activities.

Other dignitaries at the event include; the deputy governor of Abia state, Engr. Okechukwu Emetu, National chairman, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Bubs Marwa (retd), represented by Abia state commander of narcotics, Adelawa Amos Adetunji, the Vice Chancellor, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike (MOUAU), Professor Maduebibisi Ofo Iwe, and other top government officials.