By NewsCritic Reporters
The President General of Ohuhu Welfare Union worldwide, High Chief Obi Aguocha has commended Abia State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu for establishing the Ministry of Homeland Security to tackle the challenges of insecurity in the communities, adding that the people of Ohuhu will support the initiative to make it a success. Aguocha also demanded for job opportunities for Ohuhu people in the ongoing recruitment exercise in the new ministry.
Chief Aguocha said this when the leadership of Ohuhu Welfare Union worldwide paid a courtesy visit to the Commissioner Ministry of Homeland Security, Prince Dan Okoli in his office today, Thursday. January 9th, 2020.
The Ohuhu Welfare Union President-General who also thanked Governor Ikpeazu for appointing Prince Okoli as the pioneer commissioner for the new ministry, said he has no doubt that the Governor made a good choice.
He promised that the Ohuhu Welfare Union will contribute meaningfully to the success of the ministry of Home Land Security, and stressed that the OWU will key into the government policies in a bid to complement the efforts of the Abia State government in its efforts to tackle insecurity and other forms of criminality in the state.
Said Aguocha “we want you to count on our support, be it in the areas of vigilante group, fight against drug abuse, kidnapping etc count on us as critical stakeholders because we want to key into your programmes and vision.
Speaking further, Chief Aguocha told the commissioner that there have been complaints by applicants from Ohuhu Umuahia that application forms meant for Umuahia North indigenes have finished and wondered who took them all.
Aguocha reminded the commissioner that there is an existing arrangement between the Ohuhu and their Ibeku brothers whereby anything allocated to Umuahia North Local Government Area is divided into two equal parts, adding that the arrangement has worked in all aspects of Umuahia North LGA politics.
He disclosed that the Ohuhu Welfare Union want to know about employment slots for Umuahia North so “we can know how to share it with our Ibeku brothers. He said it is also important that qualified and credible candidates are employed into the homeland security outfit.
In his response, the commissioner Prince Okoli thank Chief Aguocha and his team for being the first group to visit the new ministry officially. He noted that the core mandate of any government is the security of lives and property of its citizens, adding that Governor Ikpeazu has not failed in this regard.
The commissioner promised to do his best to ensure that the Ohuhu and Ibeku people are well represented in terms of employment opportunities, adding that each of the 17 LGAs has been allocated 20 slots. He said that the state government want to expand the Abia Vigilante service to accommodate some additional operations like neighbourhood watch, community policing and forests guards.
Prince Okoli explained that the ongoing employment in the ministry is not core civil service job, but in line with community police to secure Abia.
Speaking about Umuahia North slots, he said he is aware that there is Ohuhu and Ibeku clans, and promised that he will ensure there is equity in the recruitment exercise. He also commended the President General of Ohuhu Welfare Union on how he is running the affairs of Ohuhuland, saying there is peace in the community.
Among dignitaries who were in the entourage include: Transition Committee Chairman Umuahia North LGA, Sir Lucky Akabuike, Hon. Chief Emeka Ejiogu, Special Adviser to Gov Ikpeazu; Education Secretary Umuahia North LGA, Hon Sir Clement Onyeoziri; Chief Ihedioha, Permanent Secretary Office of the Head of Service; former TC Chairman Umuahia North, Kelechi Ezechukwu Esq and Hon Okechukwu Ufomadu, the President Ohuhu Solidarity Movement.
Others are Mr Chika Nwabueze, a seasoned journalist and President Umuda-Okpuala Development Union, Isingwu; Hon Enwereuzor Ogbonna, the publicity secretary Ohuhu Welfare Union worldwide; the Ohuhu Youth Leader, Austin Onwubuiko and the OWU Provost Mr Emma.
