By Tony Adibe
The Ohanaeze Ndigbo World-wide has bemoaned the lack of interest shown by Igbo youths to join the Nigeria Police Force through the ongoing recruitment process.
President General of Ohanaeze, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu said it was quite disturbing that the Igbo youths have refused to take advantage of the ongoing recruitment to join the Police Force where they could Excell.
Although Ohanaeze didn’t disclose the likely cause of the Igbo youths’ nonchalant attitude toward joining the Police Force, NewsBits recalls that the development might not be unconnected to the alleged ill-treatment, injustice and marginalisation meted out to those who claimed they had efforts to join the Police Force in the past.
Also, NewsBits recalls that during a recent stakeholders’ forum organised inside the auditorium of the Enugu Sports Club by the Police Service Commission (PSC), to encourage southeast youths on the need to join the Police Force, some of the youths narrated how, even with their sound academic and other qualifications, the police authorities in charge of recruitment, purportedly discriminated against them in preference to their counterparts from a section of the country.
However, in a statement which he personally signed and issued on Monday concerning the development, Chief Iwuanyanwu called on all Igbo political, traditional and religious leaders as well as other notable stakeholders to ensure they awaken the consciousness of the youths on the need to join the Police Force.
The Ohanaeze leader stated: “I have observed with dismay the nonchalant attitude shown by the youths of the South East of Nigeria towards the ongoing recruitment exercise for General Duty Constables of the Nigeria Police Force.
“The available information shows that Kaduna State is leading in the on-line application into the Police Force with 20, 259 while Anambra State trails last with a mere 541 applications. Others include Ebonyi State with 737; Abia State, 966; Imo State, 999; and Enugu, 1036.
“The lack of interest by the Igbo youths towards the Nigeria Police Force is disturbing because, it is only by enlisting in the Police Force that offers the unique possibility of becoming a senior police officer in the future.
“I hereby call on the South East Governors led by His Excellency, Sen. Hope Uzodimma, CON; the Chairman, South East Council of Traditional Rulers led by HRH, Ambassador Lawrence Agubuzu, CFR; the States President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo; the Chairman, Association of South East Town Unions led by Chief Emeka Diwe; the Clergy and the various Igbo groups and social movements to use their various structures to sensitize the Igbo youths to embrace the opportunity provided by the ongoing recruitment exercise.”
