Akpabio urges FG to intervene in ecological issues

The Federal Government has been asked to intervene in ecological issues and in proper engagement of ex-militants from Akwa Ibom State, who have laid down their guns to embrace government’s amnesty programme.
Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State made the appeal on Monday when the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Emergency and Disaster Management, Hon. Ifedayo Adekunle, and the Chairman, House Committee on Public Petitions, Hon. Uzo Azubuike, paid him a courtesy visit at the Governor’s Office, Uyo.
Akpabio remarked: “We have not had the intervention of the Federal Government on ecological issues for six years now since inception of my office.
“So, I appeal for the intervention to assist flood victims in the state.
“But I believe this visit would speed up Federal Government’s assistance to the state, bringing succour by changing the lives of all those that were affected by this disaster.
“I also believe that the National Assembly would work with the Federal Government and do more to make the country united.
“I then call on the Federal Government to intervene on ex-militants who had dropped their guns to embrace amnesty and should not wait until youths carry arms before seeking to train or empower them.
“The Federal Government must hold talks with the youths not to carry guns to gain amnesty, but to embrace peace for the unity of the country.”
The governor recalled how some youths from the state, numbering more than 500, who claimed to be ex-militants, once blocked the Government House gate to lodge complaint of their neglect by the Federal Government, while their counterparts from other states had been sent overseas for enterpreneurship and vocational training.
Akpabio emphasised the need to allow justice to prevail by empowering the ex-militants to give them a sense of belonging.
He added: “If your attempt is to do justice, God will guide you.
“Don’t wait until the children carry guns to fight again.
“Let’s give succour to those in the creeks and those who were not there but still carried their guns.
“As a governor, I would be glad of any initiative that would involve discussions with the governors as a group to solve the problem.
“So, I advice Nigerians to focus on things that unite us and not things that divide the country.
“Years ago, parts of the country had been pressed down, which has not allowed the country to grow.
“So today, we must free our minds and allow other sections of the country to grow.”
Akpabio thanked the National Assembly for being proactive in carrying out the exercise and being close to the people by moving from one state and local government area to another to intervene in the needs of the people.
Hon. Adekunle said that their visit was to identify the local government projects affected by the flood and to provide ecological funds for property lost in the flood.
He said the Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Aminuu Tambuwal, has the people at heart and has sent them to observe areas affected by disasters like flood in the state.
He further congratulated Akpabio on his recent appointment as the chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, saying that as a performing governor who has transformed the state tremendously, he deserves the appointment.
Also speaking, Hon. Azubuike said their visit was to bring justice to the people of Akwa Ibom State based on the outcry of Hon. Robinson Uwak, representing Oron Federal Constituency in the House.
Uwak had sought the intervention of the House to look into the amnesty programme in the state and to deliver comfort to the people of the state.