Delta Youths Warn Against Illegal Levies, Duplicated Govt Revenue Collectors

•Vow To End Exploitation Of Citizens

By Hannah Nathan, Warri

Delta State Youths, under the auspices of the Coalition of Delta Indigenous Youth Leaders Forum, the apex youth body in Delta State has warned against illegal levies impostored on developers and investors by community youths and incessant government revenue task forces and levies in the state.

The statement urged relevant authorities in the state to prevail on the governor of the state, RT.Hon. Sheriff Oborewori to scrap such duplicated task forces and levies made to exploit Deltans of their hard-earned money.

He argued that some revenue task force members and community youths had turned power drunk and behave like criminals, hiding in Tricycles to ambush citizens of the state who may commit road offences, instead of teaching the people the traffic regulations and signs.

The youth chairman emphasised that VIO, Road Safety, Revenue Task Forces of the state and Local Government Areas refused to place road signs to help citizens to understand traffic regulations and signs, but perpetually exploiting the citizens of the state through ambush, intimidation and harassment.

He said the apex youth body was to provide opportunity for Delta Youths to corporately work towards reduction of crimes and criminalities such as Cultism, Kidnapping, Militancy, Insurgency, Violence, and other Social-vices that are detrimental to the growth and development of the State, and Nigeria at large.

In a statement signed by the State Chairman, Comrade Gometi Crested stated; “Considering the current degree of degeneration in terms of industrialization and economic instability in the State which has pushed Deltans, especially the youths to currently survive by Keke and POS business in a land flowing with milk and honey, we have vowed to resist any illegal and unfriendly conduct by any individual or group of persons that is not in conformity with the new Delta State of our dream where local and international Investors would conveniently settled.

“The emergence of this body is to objectively look inward as youths and take practical steps towards redeeming the negative image placed on the youth of Delta State, whereby creating a peaceful environment to enhance rapid economic growth and development in the State.

“We know where we were as a state before the outbreak of communal crisis and other unhealthy practices by selfish individuals which affected us greatly as a state. We have therefore decided to unite and speak in one voice to support all relevant Stakeholders in and aside Delta State without giving to ethics, religion or other forms of sentiment capable of causing division amongst Deltans to purposely push towards a new Delta where peace and harmony reigns.

“It should be noted that this decision is irreversible and we would not hesitate to resist any resistance be it an individual or group of persons.

“We therefore advised Deltans to desist from all forms of illegal Levies and unconstitutional unions, no matter how insignificant it may appear, and join hands with all relevant Stakeholders to rewrite the wrong with the view of restoring peace and economy stability in the state.

“We have launched a state tour youth sensitization programme aimed at instilling sound social morals and cultural values among the youths with the overall objectives of curbing Cultism, Kidnapping, Militancy, Insurgency, Violence, and other Social-vices among the youths, thereby promoting a safe and conducive environment for all Deltans and Nigerians at large to live in.

“However, I use this opportunity to call on Parents, Communities, Religious leaders and Traditional rulers to enact laws that promote peace and security in their various domains, as this would help a long way in creating a safe and conducive environment for all-round growth and development in the State.

“Our target is to create a safe and peaceful environment that can attract investors from all over the world, and place Delta State ahead of other states in terms of Peace, Security and Economic stability”, he said.