RIVERS YOUTHS TASK TO SHOW RESPECT TO TRADITIONAL INSTITUTIONS.

Rivers State Youths have been charged to respect constituted authorities and reverence traditional institutions in order to be veritable tools of change in enhancing community development.

Commissioner for Youth Development, Prince Obi Ohia who made the declaration during a town hall meeting at Akinima in Ahoada West Local Government Area, said the youths who constituted over sixty percent of the population of any nation have the responsibility of renewing, refreshing and maintaining societal values in any given Community.

Ohia advised the youths to show high level of regard for Traditional Stools, stating that the youth bodies were under the supervision of Traditional Institutions, Local Government Councils and the State Government.

He made it clear to the youths that if they must operate in the State, they must have absolute respect for Traditional Rulers as the State Government would not tolerate any disrespect for the Traditional Rulers.

The Commissioner however, cautioned that Traditional Rulers themselves must be unbiased and desist from wielding influence on the youth bodies, which may cause an incursion on youth activities.

Ohia advised Traditional Rulers to play fatherly and advisory roles to youths in their Communities rather than interfere with their activities, especially in choosing their leaders in order to reduce the crisis in their localities.

While delivering the Youth Education Pep talk, the Commissioner urged the youths to embrace the value of time in the area of technological and educational advancement and also adequately carry out the role of community surveillance and security in accordance with laid down guidelines while liasing with security agencies in their localities.

Ohia hinted that the State had established a symbiotic relationship with youths, the Local Government and the communities in order to gain total control of youth bodies to forstall any security breaches in the state.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Ro   wland Obed Whyte, stressed the need for community/ethnic based youth organizations in the area to key into the ongoing revalidation obligations as stipulated by the Ministry.