Ex-Imo State Governor and the Senator representing Imo West, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, on Thursday, aired his opinion on the pitiable security situation being experienced across Nigeria.
He said what has been happening in the country may actually be a child’s play compared to what may happen in the next ten years if urgent measures were not taken by appropriate authorities to arrest the dangerous trends of millions of school-age children living vicious poverty.
Okorocha, who is the Senate Committee Chairman on Culture and Tourism, made his feelings known while contributing on the floor of the Senate and monitored by DAILY POST via television on Thursday
He expressed worry over escalating insecurity in the country and called for a concerted effort by all Nigerians to ensure that the over ten million out-of-school children are helped to return to school.
He urged his fellow Senators and all Nigerians of means to stop passing the buck and take action in their personal and group capacities to make education accessible to all Nigerian children.
In his words; “When I see the over ten million children walking the streets and others displaced from their homes as a result of Boko Haram violence and other crises, I imagine what dangers these beautiful children portend for our nation in the next ten years when they must have been up to twenty years of age. Mr. President, Distinguished colleagues, the picture of such a future is frightening and I don’t wish it to Nigeria.”
The Senator also expressed reservations over calls by some of his colleagues for the nation’s security setup to be completely overhauled, arguing that such action would only serve a short-term measure.
He identified poverty, unemployment and lack of access to education as major factors fueling insecurity and argued that until these issues are tackled, the fight against insecurity in the country may never be won.
