Drug, Alcohol Addiction Can Never Justify Criminalities, Otti Tells Youths

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia

The Abia State Governor, Mr. Alex Otti, has told those that commit crime under the influence of hard drugs and alcohol to abandon the habit because engaging in criminal activities under their influence could never be justified.

Otti stated this while speaking at a one day “Sensitisation Campaign Against Cultism and Drug Addiction in Nigeria,” which was organised in Umuahia by the Abia State Orientation Agency (ABSOA).

He said: “No amount of alcohol, drug addiction or whatever it is that one had consumed would justify any action taken that is against the law.

“We have people today pooling themselves together and inflicting injury, hurt, hatred and even killing fellow human beings. There is never anytime you can justify it.”

He made it clear that his administration would not treat crime and criminals with kids gloves, adding that “we are single minded about rooting out crime and criminality and ensure that our state is safe for our citizens and our visitors.”

The governor noted that the campaign against hard drugs and cultism “is absolutely in order” because citizens must be educated about “the implications of some of these actions that lead to other actions.”

He listed armed robbery, kidnapping, abductions, violent crimes and banditry among criminalities that “have been related and associated very closely with cultism and drug addiction.”

He advised participants at the event to take the dangers of cultism and drug addiction seriously and help in waging the war against cultism and drug addiction.

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, in his goodwill message, described the campaign against cultism and drug addiction as timely and commendable as the menace was destroying youths.

The IGP, who was represented by a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Mr. Sani Shuaibu, assured stakeholders of the police readiness to synergise with sister security agencies and the Abia State Government to fight cultism and drug addiction.

Earlier, the Director General, Abia State Orientation Agency, Pastor Dike Nwankwo, explained that the campaign was aimed at sensitising and re-orientating Abians, especially the youths, on the dangers of cultism and drug addiction.

Nwankwo highlighted the dangers associated with cultism and drug addiction, expressing confidence that the event would bring about a cross fertilisation of ideas and proffer solutions to the menace of cultism and drug addiction.

The Vice Chancellor of the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Professor Maduebibisi Iwe, delivered the keynote lecture entitled “Building a New Abia Through a Responsible Citizenship.”

Iwe identified the challenges confronting youths to include unemployment, inadequate revenue generation and weak industrial base, adding that there is need for responsible citizenship by all, especially the youths.

He commended Governor Otti for his initiative to save Abia youths from the evils of drug addiction and cultism.