A member of the Bakassi Defence Force, a militant group in Cross River State, Obongette Ini Okon, aka Virus, has vowed to change and not to go back to youth restiveness and other anti-social behaviour.
Virus stated this in Calabar when he received a grant of N2 million from the state government.
He was among the 200 repentant agitators and 200 farmers who recently graduated from the intensive training on innovative and integrated agricultural value chain at Countryside Stewardship Scheme Farms in Nasarawa State.
Speaking after receiving the grant from Governor Bassey Otu, Okon said that “we have changed and will not go back to our past, and we will ensure that the state remains in peace,” while thanking the governor for the gesture.
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Empowering the ex-militants at Hogis Royale Hotel, Calabar, the governor maintained that they will not be stigmatised in any way, as he will do everything possible to ensure that they are properly integrated into society.
He added that one of the hallmarks of a responsible government is its commitment to integrating the yearning of the people into its overall development plan.
Gov. Otu said, “any failure to properly harness and articulate the potential of our youths will leave them with no option but to embrace anti-social vices and activities which usually dent the progress, harmony, and peace of the society.”
He remarked that the said disbursement of N800 million as grants to farmers and former members of the Bakassi Defence Force remains a value-laden gesture predicated on the strategic human capital posture of his administration.
Gov. Otu affirmed that the initiative will curb youth restiveness and other anti-social behaviour, which are completely negative to society.
He added that the agricultural value chain was deliberately chosen as the preferred sector for the training and empowerment due to its benefits and the need to attain food sufficiency before the end of his administration.
