The Agitator and Establisher of Oil revenue derivation for Niger Delta States in Nigeria, in 1981, Rev. (Dr.) Sokari Soberekon has called on the Rivers State government to grant youths of Rivers State Origin rehabilitation loan as to make them useful to themselves and the society.
The intellectual elder statesman made this assertion to The Newswriter over the weekend when our Sports Editor visited him. According to him, granting rehabilitation loan to the youths will enable them to play a more responsible role in the society, as well as contributing to the revenue of the state.
He pointed out that if the youths of the state are engaged in a more lucrative venture, it will bring more blessing to the people, themselves, the state and the entire society, adding that rather than paying the ex-militants money every month without a tangible skill to help them and the society, such funds could be used in training them on skills to contribute to the state. While commending the state for paying the ex-militants every month, the government should also empower the non gun carrying youths by granting them rehabilitation loan, in that way they will feel the money and be more purposeful, thereby contributing also to the revenue of the state.
The veteran activist opined that Ahoada could be a take off point from the Ahoada Estate built by governor Ernest Adeleye then spreading to the 23 local government of councils in the state in bit.
Instead of leaving them in the hands of the politicians who will give them guns to fight for them only to win election. He maintained that this will bring sense of belonging and self dignity to the youths themselves which will also reduce crime in the society and will checkmate politicians taking the state money to save in foreign bank accounts.
Rev. (Dr.) Sokari Soberekon, also advised the government to give contracts to the youths to carry some of the contracts instead of concentrating on foreign contractors, pointing out that as these youths will in turn pay tax to the government and that way using one stone to kill two birds “If these boys are empowered by the government through rehabilitation loan, and where they have acquired a skill, I tell you the state, society and the boys themselves benefit, this is a short way of curbing crime in the society. You also make the youths feel money through decent way of life by using their mental intellectual ability”.
Rev. (Dr.) Sokari Soberekon just clocked 70 years on 24th September, 2012. As he marks his 70th birthday he wants the governor Amaechi and other Niger Delta state governors to remember him with an award and reward for his agitation for oil revenue derivation policy which was established by President Shehu Shagari, in 1981. ###
Allanso Jonathan Allanso
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