A COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF IMO YOUTH MEETING ORGANIZED BY IMO NETWORK GROUP (ING) YOUTH WING, HELD AT VANDOZ PLACE, 62 MCC ROAD, OWERRI IMO STATE ON 9TH APRIL 2017 BY 2:45 PM

Whereas, Imo Network Group (ING) is a non-partisan, socio-political and pro democracy group, created by and for all patriotic Imolites home and abroad, to promote and institute the culture of good governance, quality nd credible leadership in Imo Sate, anchored on the principles of Transparency, Accountability and Inclusiveness (TAI). Encouraging and supporting youth participation in politics and governance of the state.
That ING is well established in Owerri, Aba, PortHarcout, Abuja, Lagos, Gambia, UK, Japan etc.
Whereas, virtually every LGA in Imo State is ably represented here today.

Whereas, the issues discussed at the Imo youth meeting includes but not limited to:
1. State of Imo Youths
2. State of Governance in Imo State
3. Imo Youth Summit 2017
4. INEC Voters Registration Exercise
5. The Ultimatium


Summary and resolutions:

STATE OF IMO YOUTHS
Whereas, Imo State has been described in recent times, as a graveyard where many youthful talents and skills are buried due to lack of support and motivation. Since the inception of this present government, the Imo state government under the watch of Mr Governor, Rochas Okorocha has shown lack of commmitment and care towards providing viable solutions to the challenges confronting Imo youths.That the youths no longer want stomach infrastructure as paraded by the state government and its apparatus, but substantial social infrastructural facilities and industries that would absorb the teeming population of University graduates for the development of Imo Youths and the economy of the state. That it is very unfortunate that the youths rally around politicians for peanuts, instead of coming together to fight for their rights and promote good governance. The youths need re-orientation and enlightenment so as to change their mindset about praise singing and unneccessary endorsement of politicians who have nothing to offer to them. Whereas we have taken patriotic notice of the unethical and unpatriotic attitudes of some youths who trekkedd to government house, asking Mr Governor, Rochas Okorocha to "show them" the man that will succeed him. Whereas we have noted that those youths were rented from neighbouring states with the sum of #1,000,000 by Rochas' Chief of Staff and incumbent son in law, that they sum was handed over to them on the floor of the government house by The Chief of Staff and that these youths have also wasted their own share of the peanuts on bet9ja. Whereas, the youths should be enlightened to stop selling their future to politicians by collecting money from them during election period and helping them to achieve their selfish political gains or interests. That the major challenge that Imo youths are facing is that they are being ruled by visionless politicians, who do not have their interest at heart. That Imo youths are seriously bittered that Governor Rochas Okorocha has sold off virtually all assests belonging to Imo youths and Imolites in general, without any commensurating social infrastructures and employment opportunities created by the state government.
Whereas our governor who claimed to be on a rescue mission, sold off Adapalm and other industries capable of solving the unemployment challenges of the youths and gave Imo youths Bongo square. That Rochas Okorochas has ended up rescuing his family and extended family members alone via "my family" "my family" system of administration.
Whereas bet9ja has become the only functional industry in Imo today, that is providing sucuor and hope to our youths.
That, It is saddening that the youths keep mute over the day-to-day governance of the state, they fail to question or checkmate the excesses, income and expenditure of the State, but rather blindly stand in solidarity with selfish politicians who only see them as tools for actualising their political interests.
That, Imo youths gathered here today representing virtually all the 27 LGAs of the state are urgently calling on the attention of the state government to redirect its policies and resources towards solving challenges of youth unemployment, creating employment opportunities to Imo youths and other quality empowerment programmes and skills, capable of helping Imo youths to harness and maximize their potentials.

STATE OF GOVERNANCE IN IMO STATE

Whereas, the present style of governance in Imo today is in no measure close to or related to good governance. Resembling in manner and nature to A Military Sole Administrator system of governance. Where one tyrant administrator wakes up one morning, makes impulse decrees and carry them out without due consultation with the people. But, it must be noticed that sovereignty belongs to the people, whereas elected individuals are merely entrusted with political power by the masses, they are mere caretakers of political power but ownership belongs to the people.
That all the tenets of good governance - Transparency, accountability and inclusive participation of the people in governance through consultation, town hall meetings and constituency briefings, where the people are expected to make inputs on what they desire for themselves, have become but illusions. Whereas, What we see today, is one particular family and with their extended uncles and son in laws sitting on a round table and deciding the destinies of over four million people. This desperation and tyranny exhibited by this family has got to stop.
Wjereas, more worrisome is the outright sale of IMO state assets and lack of accountability in the management of the common wealth of Imolites.
Whereas, Imo youths are dissatisfied and further disillusioned following the imposition of N3,000 levy on all taxable adults in Imo state. And the inceasant threat on our trduational rulers and fathers, with threats and intimidation of "banisment and merger of autonomous communities who fail to religiously collect and raise the #3,000 levy from her indigens. Whereas, the imposition of compulsory #3,000 levey on all taxable adults by the state government, under the watch of Rochas Okorocha is the zenith of dictatorship and a return of Medieval colonial approach to looting the people dry. This must be resisted by all well meaning Imolites. It will only further hardship on the people.

IMO YOUTH SUMMIT 2017
Whereas, Imo youths have resolved to take our destinies in our hands, seeing that we have a government that does not care about the development and capacity building of its youths. That we have resolved to organize and execute for ourselves Imo youth Summit in honour of Dee Sam Mbakwe.
INAUGURAL DR SAM MBAKWE ANNUAL IMO YOUTH SUMMIT 2017 is a Civic Leadership and Entrepreneurship Summit, aimed at training Imo youths in civic leadership, to be politically involved in the politics and administration of the state, while equipping the youths with 21th century entrepreneurship skills and digital trainings that will afford them the opportunity to be finacially self reliant. That the the summit is themed: BUILD THE YOUTHS, BUILD THE STATE.
That the youths should be empowered with adequate skills to become financially independent which would in no small way help them in firmly resisting the temptation of peanuts being given to them by dubious politicians.
Whereas, Inaugural Dr Sam Mbakwe Annual Imo Youth Summit 2017, is designed to last for the duration of three days, with a capacity to host about 250 to 300 Imo youths, drawn from across the 27 LGAs of the state. who will be trained in sveral areas of civic leadership and entrepreneurship skills.

INEC VOTERS REGISTRATION EXERCISE
Whereas, INEC Voters Registration exercise will commence from 10th April 2017. That, we are by this publication urging Imo youths to ensure they register and collect their PVCs. Whereas, the PVC is their power which they will use to employ and recruit more capable hands to govern the state and represent the people in other capacities. That its necessary for every Imo youth and Imolites in general to ensure they are duly registered and collect their PVCs.

THE ULTIMATIUM
Whereas Imo youths are bittered with the leadership style of this present government and the secrecy somurrounding the administration of Rochas Okorocha. That Imo youths are calling on the state government with immediacy to:

1. "Show" us where they kept our bail out funds
2. "Show" us where they kept our Paris club funds
3. "Show" us where they kept the proceeds from the sale of Adapalm
4. "Show" us where they kept IMO State LGA monthly allocations from 2011 to date.
5. Pay Imo pensioners their full pensions and gratuities.
6. Revoke and revert the #3,000 levy forcefully imposed on Imo people.
7. Stop threatening to "banish" our traditional rulers and elders of our autonomous communities for failing to pay their #3,000 levy.
8. Create robust and sustainable employment opportunities and quality empowerment programmes and skills for Imo youths.

Whereas, we have graciously given Mr Governor, Rocha's Okorocha from now to 30th June 2017 to respond and provide solutions to the 8 issues raised above. Two weeks upon the expiration of this ultimatum, without commensurate response from the governor. We shall let him know that sovereignty belongs to the people. Whereas, we shall notice him that no man can successfully wage a way against his kinsmen and emerge victorious. We are determined to liberate our state from neo colonial rule, obnoxious laws and policies, as well and to free ourselves from political bondage, slavery and impending annihilation.
Whereas, we shall mobilize patriotic youths across the 305 autonomous communities. That we shall occupy Imo State Government House, Imo State House of Assembly, barricade and halt vehicular movements along Owerri Onitsha Road, at Control post, occupy Imo State Liason Office at Lagos and Abuja simultaneously. We shall occupy theses places for solid 3 days till international Communities and other related agencies come to our intervention. We are aware that the only language a tyrannical government and its apparatus understands is stiff opposition and we are ready to marshal such sophisticated protest and opposition till they repent from their evil ways.

Singed:
Fortune Akujiobi Youths Cordinator
Imo Network Group (ING)

Chukwubuikem Amaefula Organizing Secretary
ING Youth Wing

Casmir Chigoziri
Publicity Secretary
ING Youth Wing

09/04/2017

all dis imo youth wey sabi make mouth too much