EARCOM Lauds Afaha Ube Itam Youths For Patriotism, Ethical Conduct ...Commends CSP Francis Erhabor

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EARCOM Lauds Afaha Ube Itam Youths For Patriotism, Ethical Conduct ...Commends CSP Francis Erhabor

At a time when youths in the country are working hard to regain their battered image in Nigeria, youths in Afaha Ube Itam in Itu Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, have redeemed theirs effortlessly.

The Ethical and Attitudinal Reorientation Commission (EARCOM), Akwa Ibom State, commended the youths of Afaha Ube Itam in Itu Local Government Area as 'models of patriotism, ethical conduct and selfless service', in their effort in recovering items looted by hooligans during the EndSARS protest in Uyo on Thursday, October 22, 2020.

During a press briefing in Uyo, the state capital, the commission's chairman, Dr Dorothy Thompson, informed that the recent ugly events occasioned by the hijack of the EndSARS protests by hoodlums in the state left all sad. "The wanton looting and destruction of private and public property, as well as regrettable loss of lives were highly tragic and unacceptable, Thompson had said.

The commission's chairman commended the Itam divisional police officer, CSP Francis Erhabor; and the youths who were said to have voluntarily teamed up with the CSP on a houseto-house search where they discovered, recovered and returned items including flat screen television sets, deep freezers, refrigerators and many other electronic gadgets to the Itam Police Station.

The EARCOM boss appreciated Erhabor for displaying the bravery of a rare police officer in handling the situation, and described the Afaha Ube youths as true Akwa Ibom youths who are great people with great minds. Extolling the exemplary qualities of the chief superintendent of police, Dr Thompson said, "It would be recalled that on September 28, 2020, President Muhammadu Buhari honoured CSP Francis Erahbor as one who has never taken a bribe before at the State House, Abuja.

"We wish this exceptional honour done Mr Erahbor will encourage his colleagues in the Police force to jettison corrupt practices allegedly bedevilling the force and join hands in redeeming the already battered image of the Nigeria Police. Francis Erahbor remains a beacon of hope for our generation and our country as a role model whose life and passion for service are a great example for all well-meaning citizens of this country.

EARCOM is a statutory commission established by a bill passed by the Akwa Ibom House of Assembly and signed into law by the governor on April 11, 2000. Among other objectives, EARCOM, according to the chairman, is saddled with the responsibility: to re-engineer the entire citizenry for greater responsibilities and a better society; to restore ethical and moral sensibilities which have been wantonly traumatized over the years; to propagate and promote the spirit of the dignity of labour, honesty and commitment to qualitative production and consumption of home-produced commodities and services; to propagate the need to eschew all vices in public life including corruption, electoral and all forms of malpractices, ethnic, parochial and religious sentiments; to mobilize the populace for positive patriotic participation in and identification with the state and national affairs and issues and to sensitize the populace to fight against all forms of internal and external domination of state and national resources by a few individuals or groups.

Other responsibilities include: to ensure and uphold leadership by example; to foster respect for constituted authority; restore and sustain discipline in public and private life; to encourage the people to actively and freely participate in discussions and decisions on matters affecting their welfare; to develop among people of all ages and sex, social and cultural values and awareness which will inculcate the spirit of patriotism, nationalism, self-discipline and self-reliance; to establish a feedback channel on all aspects of national life; to ensure that government programmes and policies are better understood by the public; to encourage informal education through public enlightenment activities and publications; to encourage the teaching of Civics, the Nigerian Constitution and Moral Instructions in schools as well as preach against juvenile delinquency among pupils in schools. "Under our watch and stewardship, EARCOM has strenuously pursued the aforesaid objectives while vigorously campaigning for a socially responsible citizenry that are averse to social vices including rape, gender-based violence, cultism, drug abuse, child labour human and sex trafficking, examination malpractices, electoral fraud and all forms of criminality.

"In our pursuit of a just and egalitarian society, we have been inspired by the efforts of the first lady, Dr Martha Udom Emmanuel, in fighting social vices and have accordingly taken our campaigns to secondary and tertiary institutions of learning across the 10 federal constituencies of the state and the three senatorial districts, visited churches, interfaced with traditional and religious leaders as well as held workshops and seminars for public sensitization on the need for ethical reorientation. "In the midst of the chaos in which our state governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel, demonstrated enormous leadership and empathy in managing the crisis to restore social stability and security, also witnessed the emergence of a hero in the aftermath. "Chief superintendent of police, Francis Erabor, is that hero.

The DPO of the Itam Police Division mobilized his officers and men, and in efficient collaboration with responsible youths mounted a search and recovered looted items carted away by hoodlums. He did so professionally and with such diligence that stands him out as a true officer and a gentleman, she submitted. On his part, the youth leader in Afaha Ube Itam, Mr. Victor Akpan, appreciated the state governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel, for the swift response he took which, he noted, led to the successful recovery of the stolen items.

He further commended EARCOM for appreciating their efforts and described youths of Afaha Ube Itam as law-abiding citizens and as such would not condone any act of criminality. In attendance at the press briefing were board members of EARCOM including Mr Victor Udofia, Mr Nsikak Nyong, Mr Michael Isang and Pastor Ime David. Others were: the DPO for D Police Division, CSP Francis Erhabor, among others.