Gov. Obiano’s wife mobilizes women leaders to fight drug war

First Lady of Anambra State Chief (Mrs) Ebelechukwu Obiano receiving Commander of NDLEA Anambra State, Mr Sule Momodu when a delegation from NDLEA Anambra State Command paid courtesy visit to the First Lady at Government House Awka.

The wife of Anambra State governor, Chief (Mrs.) Ebele Obiano has assured of her determination to continue to work with women leaders across the wards and 21 local government areas of the State to combat the scourge of consumption and sale of illegal drugs.

Mrs Obiano gave the assurance when the State Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mr. Sule Momodu led a delegation of his Command on a courtesy visit to her office at Government House, Awka, Thursday, Chief Mrs. Obiano stated part of the strategy would be to organize an enlightenment forum either on Sundays or once in a month to remind women on their role in society. She said that she had charged the women to train their children and wards in character and way of the Lord so that they don’t indulge in social vices, stressing that she would hold further consultative meetings with the Women Leaders to deliberate on the drug issue.

“As the wife of the State governor, I have had the privilege to speak to women leaders and encouraged them to train their children very well and in the way of the Lord. If the children are well trained, I can assure you that they will not engage in use and sale of illicit drugs, but because most mothers are not doing the needful, their children and wards take to illicit drug business.

“We will do a lot to rid the State of illegal drug. I will call a meeting of Women Leaders to deliberate on the nagging drug issue.”

She lamented that many people engage in drug abuse, pointing out that,  such a situation could breed bad elements in the society and expressed happiness with the seriousness the State governor has been waging the war against criminals, kidnappers and  drug barons including the illicit drug place discovered in Nanka which she said would be cleaned up.

The governor’s wife applauded the awareness creation on dangers and effects of drug abuse by an NDLEA staff who were part of her entourage in the tours of local government area of the State, and pointed out that the message would go a long way in making a lot of people embrace the need to shun illicit drugs and work for their eradication.

Chief Mrs. Obiano who runs a pet project, Caring Family Enhancement Initiative (CAFÉ), commended the NDLEA Command for its publications and other educational activities to create awareness among the citizenry on the dangers and effects of use and sale illegal drugs, promised to assist in the distribution of the Command’s handbook on drug crusade and the efforts to rid the State of illegal drugs.

The wife of the governor attributed the hard stance and abnormal, inhuman disposition  of criminals to the abuse of substance like drug and charged women to take up the challenge to check the tendency of children and youths to take illegal drugs, as they are the ones to bear the brunt of unruly behavior of the children and wards.

Earlier, the leader of the delegation and the State NDLEA Commander, Mr. Momodu appreciated the honour done the team by the reception, pointing out that the visit was to seek her support in the Command’s efforts to combat use and sale of illegal drugs, notably cocaine, heroine and ‘crack’.

Mr. Momodu described as alarming and worrisome the drug situation in the State, stressing that Anambra tops other States in the federation in involvement in illegal drug and drug-related activities

He praised governor Obiano for being the one driving the security war and carrying them along, noting that the governor released the sum of N15 million  to clean up the illegal Nanka drug factory which he disclosed engaged in manufacturing of a harmful drug, methamphetamine, otherwise residents could be exposed to either one form of disability or develop body disorder.

The NDLEA boss stated that as a mother, the governor’s wife could appreciate the pains and dangers of drug addiction among children and youths , urging her to help take the drug issue message  and the NDLEA publications, including the book, Drug and You’ to the grassroots for easy education of the  populace on dangers and effects of illegal drugs.

He lamented that of 19 Nigerians on death row over trafficking in drugs, 14 of them are from Anambra State, pointing out that the Command is still on course in disseminating information on dangers of trafficking and consumption of illegal drugs.