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Homelocal gossipI want to be a transformational Ibusa Youths Leader -Asiodu

I want to be a transformational Ibusa Youths Leader -Asiodu

Comrade Ifeanyi Asiodu
President, Ibusa Youth Council

[dropcap]C[/dropcap]omrade Victor Ifeanyi Asiodu is someone who looks up for direction even as he continues to soar higher by the special grace of God. A compassionate leader who has consistently for years continues to make people happy. He is Humble, jovial, loving, generous, easy going, accommodating etc. He is a man that allows people to express their views on any given issue before coming up with his decision even as a boss or leader.

Comrade Victor Ifeanyi Asiodu is the newly installed President of Ibusa Youth Council,IYC; the umbrella body of all youth organisations in Ibusa. In this exclusive interview with Grassroots Publishers online, Asiodu inspired with a vision to create a platform where young people in Ibusa will be deliberately empowered with the skills, drive and character required to be a transformational leader.

Excerpts:

Comrade, Recently you were installed as the new President of Ibusa Youths Council. Can you throw more light on how this came about?

To the glory of God, the election issue has permanently come and gone. I contested with my brother and at the end of the day “No victor, no vanquished”. we are one united family now and  we have come together as one big family for the progress of Ibusa youths.

The Youth body has always been a target for politicians who use it for their political interest. What are you doing to make the IYC the authentic voice for Ibusa Youths?

Everywhere in the world, youth constituencies are a major political target for numerous reasons. Politicians will continue to romance youth organizations, associations and so on but the challenge is how do we participate in politics? What role do we play in the game of politics?  What do politicians perceive of youths when politics is discussed?

The participation of youths in politics has outgrown using them as political thugs, ballot snatchers, and mere campaign crowds. The fact remains that any country desirous of a prosperous future would take youths engagement beyond political machinations. The Ibusa Youth Council under my watch would be more concerned about youth participation in governance which is in synchronization with youth participation in politics.

We hope to see more youths elected and appointed into offices rather than fighting one another in the name of politics. To lead the apex youth body in Ibusa is a tasking responsibility but with God Almighty, this administration shall succeed beyond expectation. I had the grace to have risen through the rank and file of youth activism, from being a community youths leader to ethnic youth leader, now the youth President.

With the experiences gathered over time and the support from the council, we would have a council that represents the interest of all. This leadership under my watch will facilitate scholarship awards for our students, create employment opportunities for youths across the nine villages in Ibusa, produced quality representation to Ibusa youths in regional and international fronts, among others.

Youths unemployment is seen as one of the reasons for the rising crime rate in Ibusa  and Delta State. Is the council in talks with the government and relevant stakeholders on ways of mitigating unemployment in the land?

The cardinal point of my administration is to fight insecurity and make sure peace reign supreme in Ibusa. Youths employment is a major focus of my administration. It’s a serious matter and my leadership is looking at it as a top priority. It aches my heart to see talents roaming about the streets without proper utilization. Ibusa is endowed with youths that are broad-minded, skillful and multi-talented; unfortunately, they are underutilized. The majority of Ibusa youths believe in seeking greener pasture outside,  due to unemployment or underemployment. We cannot continue like this considering the vast material and mineral resources this Delta is endowed with because, Ibusa is part of Delta State capital territory . The adage “an idle mind is the devil’s workshop” best describes the high rate of criminal activities in the country and it is so sad that the youths form the bulk of criminal elements we have in the country today.

The council under my watch will partner with relevant stakeholders to reduce the unemployment rate in the society. Additionally, leadership workshops and entrepreneurial training would be organized across the town while sponsorship programs will be facilitated for youths (Skill Acquisition) entrepreneurs and so on. The council under my watch must reduce crime in Ibusa, because no investor will like to put his or her money if the environment is not safe , so we want to create peaceful environment that will attract Investors and visitor to our community.

Presently , we have commence serious campaign against cultism , kidnapping and other crimes in Ibusa ,telling the youths the implication of committing crime or killing because if anybody kills under the name of any cult group , we will go for the person and not the group, so whatever group you belong we are not interested but will be interested in the perpetrator of the crime (killer) and he must face the law.

.Ibusa town is no longer a safe heaven for crime perpetrator because our vigilant group is very proactive now because they are well equipped  and the sons and daughters of Ibusa are giving them  maximum support. So we advise the evil doers to  relocate from Ibusa for their safety.

Comrade , What plans do you have for the old people( Elders) in Ibusa?

Yes, you are talking about our fathers and mothers , we will soon fashion out plan for our aged  fathers who are vulnerable , but for the most senior Diokpa of Ibusa, I have made a promise to him(Diokpa) that on behalf of my youths Council  I will be paying him a stipend of ten thousand naira (N10,000)every month as our own contribution for his up keep and am appealing  to other able bodies in Ibusa to support our elders who are  vulnerable in Ibusa .

I want to use this medium to thank Chief (Barr.) Fred Ajudua (Onwa oyoko Ibusa),  our mentor, our boss, the father Christmas of our time. Whose transformation is parallel with the transformation of Saul to Paul in the Holy Bible. He is a pacesetter in Humanitarian Service and we are proud to learn at his  feet , and also thank  Hon. Innocent Esewezie and his  Electoral Committee for the seamless process that produced this current executives of Ibusa Youth .

Comrade,The Obuzor of Ibusa, Obi Louis Nwaoboshi inaugurated you and  the officers in his palace on Saturday 27th June, 2020. What do you have to say about his 25th reign as Obuzor?

The Obuzor of Ibuzor is our Royal father  and the pillar of this council, His Royal Majesty, Obi (Prof.) Louis Chelunor Nwoboshi will soon mark his 25th anniversary on the throne with much pomp. He has changed the traditional face of Ibusa and he has brought a lot of developments to the community. Infact,Obi Louis Nwaoboshi  is the arrowhead of Ibusa , he represents the community both at the local, state and federal levels. We are very grateful for his reign as our king.

As a Grassroots Youth Leader in Ibusa, how can you access your representatives at the state and federal  – Princess(Mrs) Pat Ajudua and Senator Peter Nwaoboshi?

Both representatives are  wonderful people, they are doing marvelously well for the town because they have done alot for us in terms of development and empowerment. We are proud of both representatives and are appealing for more empowerment from them to enable us take Ibusa to a higher  level.

What is your assessment of the general state of affairs in the Delta?

Delta State is a great state blessed with wonderful people.  Irrespective of the situation, Deltans always stand tall. The government has a role to play in making this state a better place for us all and our part. Our amiable Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, has performed beyond expectations in spite of paucity of funds occasioned by the economic recession that confronted the country when he came on board on May 29, 2015, particularly in job/wealth creation for the youths through the STEO/YAGEP schemes, human capital development, the prevailing peace in the state and infrastructural development as evident in the massive road construction and rehabilitation across the three senatorial districts of the state. “Governor Okowa believes so much in the youths. His consistent effort to build young leaders in Delta State is laudable. Obviously, Okowa has made some positive shifts from the status quo that must be acknowledged”. We shall continue to contribute our quota to the growth of our dear state.

Governor Okowa has done very well in the five years of his administration, he has turned the fortunes of the state around for the better in fulfillment of his campaign promises. Ibusa youths wish to use this medium to appeal to governor Ifeanyi Okowa to relocate some government ministries and agencies to Ibusa so that our people can feel the presence of government as part of the capital territory.

Thank you very much.

By: Ike Philip Abiagom & Glory Ogoh

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