Youths in Ilupeju Ekiti have been cautioned against the illicit use of drugs and political thuggery at a one-day open campaign organized by the Ilupeju Youth Development Association (IYDA), an affiliate of Ilupeju Development Association (IDA) in Ilupeju Ekiti, Oye Local Government Area.
The National President of Ilupeju Youth Development Association (IYDA), Engineer Femi Fagbemi in his welcome address called on the youths of Ilupeju Ekiti to stop the consumption of hard drugs and dangerous substances and avoid cultism and thuggery in the community. He posited that engaging in such acts is not just inimical to the progress of the community but would also be putting their lives in danger.
“Anybody caught in such will face the wrath of the law. Anyone in the custody of unlawful drugs in the community will be arrested and prosecuted”, Fagbemi said.
While issuing a warning to those who sell illicit substances, he said: “we are not going to allow anyone to come and sell any hard or harmful drugs in Ilupeju Ekiti again. We promise to empower those who are willing to stop the sales of hard drugs and dangerous substances in Ilupeju Ekiti with a more profitable and honourable businesses”.
Dr. Femi Babalola, the Ilupeju Development Association (IDA) President who was represented by Pastor Olu Olosunde, the Vice President 1 of IDA frowned at the rate the youths in Ilupeju community consume alcohol, marijuana and other harmful drugs. Babalola stressed that regular usage of marijuana can affect the brain development and lead to a drop in intelligent quotient (IQ). Asides, he stated that hard drugs also leads to addictions which translates to serious health problems such as breathing, which makes the heart prone to sudden attacks, depression, anxiety and thoughts of suicide. He identified other effects to include violence, unnecessary agitations, hallucinations, high blood pressure, chest pain, panic attacks, dehydration, kidney failure which leads to sudden death.
Dr. Akinyede Opeyemi who gave the first lecture equally submitted that “drug abuse adds to the burdens experienced in our economy”. During the second lecture, the representative of the State Commandant of the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Ekiti State, Mr. Ibrahim Alli in his own lecture, titled “Consequences of Hard Drugs on the People,” defined drug as anything that modifies and influences the workings of the body system consumed by an individual in liquid, tablet, powder or in a glue form.
The NDLEA official went further to state the commonly abused drugs to include tobacco, alcohol, cocaine, heroine, Indian hemp, opium, amphetamine, kolanuts, coffee, aspirin, codeine, panadol and paracetamol. Alli listed the classification of drugs as narcotics, depressants, stimulants, hallucinogens, cannabis, anabolic steroids and inhalants.
Dignitaries at the open campaign included the Special Adviser (SA) on Youths and Student Matters to Governor Kayode Fayemi, Comrade Ademiloye Moses; Mr. Seyi Oska Ayeleso, the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Ekiti State Governor on Fountain Holdings / Ikogosi Warm Springs, the representatives of the NSCDC, Nigerian Police Force and executives of transport unions.
Packaged by Emmanuel Adeniran
