By Emma Arubi
WARRI — LOCAL government chairmen in the country have been charged to re-direct and re-energise the youths in their areas to agricultural activities to disengage their minds from social vices.

The National President of Ijaw Peoples Congress, Mr. Ekanpour Enewaridideke, said this in a statement made available to Vanguard yesterday.

He said council bosses have a way of neglecting agriculture which used to be the mainstay of the economy, adding that for Niger Delta youths, engaging them in agricultural activities would go a long way in assisting the Federal Government’s post-amnesty programme.

Enewaridideke called on council chairmen to get seriously involved in agricultural duties by appointing supervisory councillors that are willing to work in the farm, noting that over-dependence on oil had done the country no good.

The activist, who frowned on the word militants, said nobody should henceforth address Tompolo as ex-militant, since he was consistent in his fight against exploitation and oppression meted on the suffering people of the region by successive governments in Nigeria.

Said he: “With the ideological shift, the government and the public should now address Chief Government Ekpemukpolo as a venerable freedom activist in the class of late Isaac Boro.”

He commended Tompolo for his transparent and well regulated emancipation struggle.