Throngs of Kwara Youths in collaboration with the Ishola Olateju Foundation on Saturday, hosted 2nd roundtable discussion in honour of Ishola Olateju Olohungbebe as he marks his birthday anniversary.
The event was held at the Igbomina House along Ganmo road in Ilorin, the state capital.
Speaking at the program, the organisers described that the event as an avenue not to only dance and merry alone but to deliberate on happening around the country.
Comrade Adeyemo Richard, on behalf of the entire organizers said, despite the fact that the first edition of Ishola Olateju Foundation roundtable discussion was to harmonize the youth Constituency devoid of political affiliation, they deemed it fit to organized the second edition in order to find lasting solutions to ritual killings, insecurity, and so on, owning to the fact that there are records of these menace in the country.
He added that as a result of these prevalence menace, this edition was organized to chart a way forward.
Richard said, “What we are doing here today is not to only dance and merry, but to deliberate on the happenings in our country as we cannot claim to be unaware that as a country, we are challenged on all facet of life, from insecurity, economy, our education is in comatose. These and many more have put our future at greater risks, which we have taken upon ourselves as the owner of the country, because the leadership of the country is already on us as youths.
“Last year, which marked the first edition of Ishola Olateju Foundation Roundtable discussion, it centered on effects of social media on internal security, a case study of #ENDSARS, Herdsmen, Cybercrime and Ritual Killings. You will agree with us that, despite different approaches, insecurity and ritual killings are still on rampage.
“We must all rise and raise our voices against these menace. It must stop, we have no option. This year, we the organizer of Ishola Olateju Discourse are not given up on the insecurity in our country and we have chosen another theme that dwell on insecurity.”
The Controller of Corrections, Kwara State Command, Mallam Aliyu Baba Usman, while speaking on the topic, “Development of our society and tackling of insecurity in Nigeria – our roles as youth”, said, no meaningful development can take place in a society full of insecurity.
According to him, “To begin with, no meaningful development can take place in a society full of insecurity, this pose a great problem to the youth, the old and the Nation at large.
“A developed society is a society that is free from violence and absence of insurgence. A society where is peace reign supreme and the citizens live freely without fear and intimidation. This can only be achieved in a society where the youths are fully engaged, economically stable, secured and participate in the affairs of their nation without being intimidated.”
The Controller further described the effects of insecurity as loss of life, destruction and loss of properties, attack on Correctional facilities, which leads to jail break, permanent disability, unsafe environment, war, arson, commotion, insult, abuse of human right etc.
Another discussant, Comrade Lateef Ishowo, asserted that without the government providing the basic psychological needs for its citizens, there won’t be security, adding that without security, there won’t be love.
“The basic psychological needs such as right to good life, house, water, food, electricity, motorable road, and so on should be the top priority of the government. Without all these things, there won’t be security. The government should know that provision of these basic needs are social contract between the citizens and the government which must not be breached. Any government that fail to provide all these things need to be questioned,” he expressed.
He, however, urged the Security personnel to always seek protection of life and properties and not to criminalize the citizenry.
During the Roundtable discussion session, The discussants who spoke on the “Development of our society and tackling of insecurity in Nigeria – our roles as youth” include; Comrade Lateef Ishowo, Comrade Salaudeen Lateef, Controller of Correctional Centre in Kwara State, Aliyu Baba Uthman, Barrister Kola Alimi, CSP Ajayi Okasanmi, Controller of Nigeria Immigration Service, represented by Imam Olaseyin and others.
Also, present at the program were; Prominent politicians in the state and beyond, traditional rulers from Igbomina land, and other parts of the country, youths in politics, religious leaders, captains of industries, security personnel among others.