OPEN LETTER TO ONDO STATE GOVERNMENT
ONDO STATE YOUTH NETWORK
SAVE OUR SOUL, SAVE OUR FUTURE: THE IMPERATIVE OF STATE RESPONSIBILITY IN THE FIGHT AGAINST DRUG ABUSE
The Ondo State Youth Network (OSYN) is stepping up on behalf of the young people in our beloved state to tackle a pressing issue that needs immediate and clear action from the state. Drug abuse, along with the mental, social, and economic wreckage it causes, has emerged as one of the most serious threats facing our youth today. We can no longer treat this crisis as a side issue or leave it solely in the hands of federal authorities. However, the persistent reluctance of the Ondo State Government to assume full responsibility has become not only indefensible but profoundly negligent.
Let us be crystal clear that the future of our youth and the fate of Ondo State depend on the state government taking its rightful role in this battle.
While the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) is doing its job with admirable commitment, it’s simply not enough for the state government to think that federal efforts alone can protect our communities. Drug abuse isn’t just a federal issue; it’s a local crisis. It’s right here in our neighborhoods, on our streets, in our schools, and, heartbreakingly, in the lives of far too many young people. So, any silence or half-hearted measures from the state government are just as good as turning a blind eye. We therefore appeal to the Ondo State Government to foster a functional, cooperative working relationship with the NDLEA, ensuring that both institutions can operate with mutual support and shared purpose in combating this menace.
A government that truly wants to secure the future must start by safeguarding the minds of its youth.
We urge the Ondo State Government, led by Governor Lucky Orimisan Ayedatiwa, to take this responsibility seriously. The state must:
– Set up and properly equip rehabilitation and counselling centres in every senatorial district.
– Boost community awareness and early-warning systems.
– Offer logistical and institutional support to NDLEA operations within the state.
– Incorporate drug education programs into schools, universities, and youth centres, and most importantly, show a genuine political commitment that goes beyond just words to tackle this issue head-on.
A state government that cannot protect its youth from the scourge of drugs cannot credibly speak of development, prosperity, or a secure future. No society develops while its young population is mentally fractured, chemically impaired, or socially abandoned.
We need to emphasize that the effectiveness of the NDLEA is closely linked to the quality of infrastructure in the state. No federal agency can tackle this issue alone, especially when the physical, structural, and logistical support needed to fight drug trafficking and abuse is either weak or completely lacking. Ondo State must take immediate action to provide the essential infrastructure, including operational bases, vehicles, modern equipment, and well-funded rehabilitation centres, so that the NDLEA can operate at its full potential. Anything less would be a clear sign of institutional neglect. Therefore, we say again with deliberate emphasis, “Save our soul, Save our future”. The youth of Ondo State refuse to be a generation sacrificed on the altar of governmental indifference.
OSYN remains committed to working with all relevant bodies, especially the NDLEA, but our collective efforts can only go as far as the state’s commitment allows. The moral and administrative burden now rests squarely on the shoulders of the government. History will judge whether it rose to meet this challenge or whether it faltered when leadership was most needed.
Signed,
Daniel Dare Dabo
Coordinator
Ondo State Youth Network – OSYN
Bello Adeyemi Ezekiel
General Secretary
Ondo State Youth Network – OSYN
Fagbemi Omotayo Ezekiel
Public Relations Officer
Ondo State Youth Network – OSYN
