Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki
Controversy is brewing in Ebonyi over the decision of the state government to set up a committee to oversee the N1.3bn empowerment for 1300 Youths.
Governor Francis Nwifuru had last week announced his decision to empower 1300 youths with one million naira each.
He noted that 100 youths will be drawn from each local government adding that the empowerment is to commend the youths for shunning the nationwide protest which held across the country last week.
On Wednesday, the State Executive Council set up a 9-man committee to oversee the selection process with the Deputy Governor, Princess Patricia Obila, as Chairman.
Other members include: Rt. Hon. Moses Odunwa, Speaker Ebonyi State House of Assembly; Sen. Ken Eze, representing Ebonyi Central Constituency in the Senate; Mr Emmanuel Uguru, Member Representing Abakaliki/Izzi Constituency in the House of Representatives.
Others are Stanley Okoro Emegha, State APC Chairman; Mrs. Ann Aligwe, Commissioner for Human Capital Development; Okorie Philip Ogbonnaya, Commissioner for Inter-Party; Comrade Chinedu Emerike, President FON Youth Movement; and Comrade Joshua Nwafor, Special Assistant to the Governor on Student Affairs.
However, the Committee is generating controversy as many in the state view the list with suspicion.
Many have expressed fear that the committee will be used to syphone the money just like the last empowerment of N1bn that was done by the state government last year for hawkers.
A resident, Mr Udoka Ede, argued that the committee will not yield the desired results.
He said: “This is not a party affair, hence the APC chairman shouldn’t have any business with the committee, unless it’s merely for political compensation like the looted, misappropriated and unaccounted audio hawkers’fund.
“The Deputy Governor should also not be seen in the committee because she was not able to make public her findings on the looted hawkers’ fund as the chairman of the investigative committee.
“Lastly, the Governor should step down the committee to local government levels, using upright, unbiased and independent people. That way, quota system will be reduced,” he said.
A constitutional Lawyer, Ifeanyi Chukwu, condemned the drafting of Legislators into the committee.
“How do you explained that a serving Senator representing a senatorial district is made a committee member constituted by the State Governor?”
According to him, the appointment of three legislators is against the separation of powers in a democracy.
“We practice democracy and in democracy, there is separation of powers with the Legislators acting as a check to the Executive. Making the Speaker of Ebonyi State House of Assembly a member of a committee to be chaired by the Deputy Governor of the state is an abuse of Democracy.”
Another resident, Ogbonna Francisca argued that distributing the money to youths will not solve the unemployment problem in the state.
“The governor should use that money to build an industry in Ebonyi. This idea of giving people money is just a temporary fix. He should build industries thereby creating jobs for the people,” she said.
Reacting, the Special Assistant to the Governor on New Media, Leo Oketa, promised that the Committee will be transparent.
“The Governor constituted a committee for the selection of youths to benefit from the N1m empowerment to ensure it is not left in the hands of one particular state ministry.
“The committee will definitely work sincerely to justify their inclusion in this delicate assignment. But more important than any comment about them, will be an insightful suggestion on how they can get it right,” he said.
