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From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
The Association of Local Government Of Nigerian (ALGON), Benue State chapter, has stated the commitment of council chairmen to fully enforce and implement the executive order signed into law by Governor Hyacinth Alia to checkmate public behaviour across the state.
Recall that the governor had recently signed an executive order establishing the Department of Public Order in the Ministry of Justice to coordinate government policies and matters relating to public order.
Governor Alia while signing the order into law, stated that the order was in pursuant of section 14 sub-section (2) of the 1999 constitution and section 10 of the Public Order Act, CAP 382 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Speaking on the expectations of the ALGON towards implementation of the Order, the chairman of the Association and caretaker committee chairman of Konshisha Local Government Council, Mr. Philip Achua said the 23 LG Chairmen welcomed the executive order, saying it was long overdue.
He disclosed that the association has put machinery in motion to ensure full implementation of the public order to entrench orderliness and development at the local government areas of the state.
“When the governor visited my village, when the Jechira people hosted him and in his speech, he said he would never spare any group(s) of young people who indulge in cultism, gangsterism and yahoo yahoo. That, wherever they are caught, whether the building belongs to them or hired or a hotel, the owner will be brought to book also.
“With these attitudes of our people, they have made our values so sad, poor, and ridiculed. You go to council areas, and you will see ladies and gents putting on undignifying dresses and doing things that are against public order.
“We are meeting as chairmen under association to see how we can organize a workshop on this executive order to explain to our people in clear terms about the law. By the time we go back to our various council areas, implementation will no longer be an issue.”
Mr. Achua noted that people have been yearning for this kind of law, stressing that it will reinstate the institutional societal and family values fast, eluding the state, particularly in rural areas.
The ALGON Chairman, who stated this while speaking on a radio programme in Makurdi, assured that the council chairmen will help the government implement the executive order to the latter.
He maintained that the full implementation of the order will curtail and place restrictions on anti-social activities such as cultism, gangsterism, and illicit financial activities called yahoo, yahoo that are gaining ground at the rural areas.
