AMBODE URGES YOUTHS TO SHUN CULTISM

…Urges Youths To Shun Kidnapping, Rape, Other Crimes
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Tuesday
announced readiness of the State Government to offer
amnesty to cultists willing to renounce their membership of
cult groups and turn a new leaf.
Governor Ambode, who stated this in Ikorodu at the ongoing
One Lagos Fiesta, said his administration has perfected plans
to use 2017 to rehabilitate all those involved in one form of
criminality or the other and are ready to be law abiding, with
the view to making them live normal lives and contribute
meaningfully to the society.
While noting with concern the rising spate of cultism and
other crimes especially in the Ikorodu axis, the Governor said
in as much as the government has capacity to deal with such
crimes, he nevertheless said amnesty is being offered to
encourage those willing to turn away from their old ways and
embrace new lives.
“In the last few months, we have been having a lot of
challenges with cultism in Ikorodu area and a lot of issues
that relate to kidnapping. So, we are going to strike a deal
tonight, we are going to say no to cultism and then we are
going to encourage all of you. Anybody who is a cult member,
we are going to offer you amnesty. I want to use the whole of
2017 to rehabilitate all those who have been doing bad things;
we are going to provide money and we are going to provide
jobs.
“We are going to encourage ourselves; wherever you find
somebody that is not doing anything well, you can either tell
the monarch here or come to us, we will give you protection;
we offer you money and then we are going to offer you
automatic jobs. So, we all agree to say no to domestic
violence, kidnapping, rape and no to cultism. Once you sign
on, we would offer you anything that you want,” Governor
Ambode said.
The Governor also stressed the importance of education and
hard work to the youths, and urged them to strive very hard
to be educated, and thereafter pursue their dreams.
While referring to an entertainer, Folarin Falana popularly
known as Falz, who is a lawyer, the Governor said it was
highly essential for the young ones to be educated before
thinking of other things in life.
“What I brought to you tonight is to let you know that
education is very important. You can be who you want to be.
If I was not a Governor, I would be an accountant; if I was
not an accountant, maybe I would have been an entertainer
because I love music, I love arts, I love entertainment and
that is why I want to encourage all of you, firstly, we must all
be educated and then you can now use you creative talents to
be who you want to be,” he said.
Addressing the mammoth crowd who came out in droves for
the fiesta including monarchs, members of the State
Executive Council, among others, Governor Ambode also
urged parents to talk to their children on the need to shun all
forms of crime and violence, assuring that the State
Government would continue to device strategies and policies
to give greater opportunities to the youths.