Nsukka Youths Association (NYA), an umbrella body of youths from the nine communities that make up Nsukka town, in Nsukka Council of Enugu State, yesterday, held an interactive forum with House of Assembly candidates from the constituency.

The President General of the group, Onyekachi Omeje, said that the essence of the meeting was to know the manifestoes of the candidates.

Omeje said: “We want to use the opportunity to interrogate their plans and intentions for Nsukka people.
“We invited the seven candidates in Nsukka West Constituency to enable us know the candidate that has a better plan.
“We are happy that they honoured our invitation.
“We want them to always have the interest of Nsukka and its people first in their agenda.”

He advised the candidates “not to allow the election to destroy the bond of brotherhood that exists among them as Nsukka people.”

He further urged them not to use youths of the area for political thuggery during and after the poll.

He added: “The association will not be happy if any of the candidates involve any youth in election violence and thuggery.”

In separate remarks, the candidates thanked the association for giving them the opportunity to showcase themselves and their manifestoes, as well as what they hoped to do when elected.

The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate, Uchenna Ugwuanyi, promised to sponsor bills on agriculture and youth empowerment, if elected.

“From my findings, poor funding for agriculture and unemployment are responsible for insecurity in the country.
“If there is adequate investment in agriculture and massive employment opportunities, especially for youths, insecurity will become a thing of the past,” Ugwuanyi said.

He further promised to leverage his wide reach within and outside the country to attract democracy dividends to his people.