By Lucky Isibor
The Edo Youths Peace Coalition (EYPC) has thrown its weight behind the newly enacted Edo State Anti-cultism Law by the Edo State government, noting that its full implementation will curb the spate of killing of youths by rival cult groups in the state.
The Deputy Coordinator/Chief Convener of Edo EYPC, Ade John Izegagbe today, who stated this during a peaceful rally to create awareness on the support of the law in Benin City on Thursday, 11th July, said the hierarchy of the leadership of the coalition are in total support of the anti-cultism law recently enacted by Edo State Government.
Recalled recently, as part of a renewed effort to tackle cultism in Edo State, Governor Godwin Obaseki, banned the activities of Okaigheles (Youth Leaders) in Edo South Senatorial District of the State. Obaseki disclosed this while speaking with journalists after a closed-door meeting with security Chiefs in the State, at the Government House, Benin City, the State capital.
While addressing newsmen in in a Solidarity rally with different placards at the secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Edo State Council, the Deputy Coordinator and Chief Convener, said the leadership of every house is against cultism and are in support of the anti-cultism law that was enacted by the state government.
According to him “We are now united, we are bonding and we’re saying no to cultism, no to drug abuse, no to laziness, no to mental laziness, no to all social vices and some related issues to cultism”.
Izegagbe who stressed that the hierarchy of the leadership have taken a stand and are not going back, said, “Enough of killings, enough of killing sprees, enough of everything precisely that is bringing Edo State backwards in terms of youth killings and we are particularly against it”.
He noted: “We are arresting our members, we are prosecuting our members and submitting to authorities for prosecution. Give and take, we picked here because we believe that journalists spread the news faster. I want to urge you that the same way you use in spreading the killings, use the same way to spread this news that we are united, and there will never be series of any cult clashes or killings again in Edo State.
“Enough of blood shared, enough of youth killings, children are becoming fatherless while wives are becoming widows even at their prime. We are against it and nothing can change our stand.”
Addressing the protesters, Comrade Andy Egbon, State Secretary of NUJ who stood in for the Edo State chairman of the NUJ, Comrade Festus Alenkhe said the rally is coming at a very good time. “Coincidentally, today is War Against Corruption Day.”
He urged the coalition to sustain the unity they have brought to bear, nothing that the initiative goes to show that the youths are ready to move Edo State forward.
He said most of the killings that have taken place in Edo State in the past years were all directly or indirectly involved either our friends, our family members or someone close to us.
“And I want to urged your leadership to continue in this drive. My prayer is that we should sustain this initiative so that at the end of the day, instead of killing ourselves, our brothers, our friends and relations we should be able to dialogue and resolve all differences,” he added.