Brass—The leadership of Okpoama Kingdom Youth Movement (OKYM) in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State has launched a campaign against political violence, prostitution, drug abuse, rumour-mongering and other vices in the kingdom.
The programme which seeks to sensitize youths on the dangers of deviant behaviours has commenced using banners and billboards mounted in strategic places within the kingdom as well as through news media campaigns, says Engr. Seiyefa Felix Ben-Basuo, OKYM President.
In an exclusive interview with Mangrovepen.ng, the youth leader said the campaign will also promote peace and orderliness across the kingdom.
“Our primary purpose is to sensitize and create awareness amongst youths on the need to desist from social vices such as political thuggery, prostitution, drug abuse, and all whatnot in Okpoama kingdom.
“These vices are very common, particularly amongst young people in almost all parts of the country and we don’t want that here in our kingdom because we know how destructive these particular behaviours and lifestyles can be to the lives of young persons.
So being conscious of that, we felt we should come up with these to enlighten ourselves,” he said.
While acknowledging that idleness can push youths to indulge in social vices, the youth president expressed belief that more development projects will be attracted to Okpoama, which in turn will provide job opportunities for the teeming youths and keep them meaningfully engaged.
He disclosed that the campaign was intentionally kick-started during the electioneering season to enlighten youths against political violence, adding that it is only when the kingdom is peaceful that projects can be sited.
In his words: “As the youth president of this great kingdom, my earnest prayer is for God to bless our traditional and political leaders to attract meaningful projects to the community that will provide job opportunities for the youths.
“These job opportunities will ultimately engage and empower them and keep them busy from indulging in vices which we know is inimical to their growth and development as individuals and ultimately the kingdom as a whole.”
“This is important because it is only when the kingdom is peaceful and free from social instabilities and vices that businesses can thrive and projects can be attracted to the kingdom.
“The campaign was deliberately designed to begin during this electioneering period to discourage the youths against violence before, during and after the elections.”
Ben-Basuo thanked the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, and the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Simbi Wabote for attracting some projects to Okpoama kingdom.
“As it is, meaningful projects like the Atlantic Refinery, Brass Petroleum Product Terminal Ltd (BPPT), FAK engineering contracting—a 3km road connecting BPPT to the Nembe-Brass Road and other projects are on the way courtesy of the Honourable. Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, and Engr. Simbi Wabote, the executive secretary of the NCDMB.”