By CHARLES IWUOHA

The Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, has advocated for a new national conference to address the agitation of EndSARS protesters and other myriad issues facing the country.

Umahi, who is also the Chairman, South-East Governors' Forum, made this known while addressing journalists shortly after inspecting some of the police facilities that were destroyed by rampaging hoodlums under the guise of EndSARS protest in Abakaliki, the State capital.

The Governor noted that the youths had the right to hold the leaders accountable but it should be done in due process.

He revealed his readiness to convoke a state conference by January 2021, to discuss lots of issues that affect the youths of the state, adding: “That’s why I am shouting that we must stop this madness. You can’t kill a policeman and then behead him and be showing his head to the world. What do you want the world to believe? Where does it happen in the international community? This is how civil war starts.

“I feel there is a need to have a national conference and state conference in most of the States. It is important, between the youths and the elders, political office holders because there is a lot of misinformation.

“People think that a leader must make magic. If you are building infrastructure, you need to be empowering people. The people would say no, we want to share the money.”

The Governor lamented the level of destruction of lives and properties by suspected hoodlums who embarked on destruction of police stations.

“Do you know what they did in Enugu state? I am the one sending them condolences. Do you know also what they did in Abia, I heard that they even burnt a high court today. I am the one sending condolences to those affected.

“I want you to understand that IPOB (Indigenous People of Biafra) said anybody caught burning or even killing is not their responsibility. It is not their style to start destroying or looting something and that’s why I said we have to exercise so much caution and such patience on our side, because the rule of engagement of the security agencies is that if you see somebody trying to commit assassin, you kill the person.

“No nation will thrive or succeed without everybody. I think politics has killed us in this country. Graduates are no longer interested to work, everybody, including those holding PhD, wants to be councillors.

“How can we succeed? How many of us are willing to do other work other than making big money. Our elders, how many of them are willing to remember the younger ones?” he asked.