Emanuel Chukwuma, Archbishop of Enugu Ecclesiastical Province Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), has called on South-East leaders to use modern agriculture and agro-allied entrepreneurship to address secessionist agitations in the zone.

Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Wednesday, the Archbishop said leaders in the region must come together to engage the youth in modern farming, and agro-allied business to “check idleness that leads to other challenges.”

According to Mr Chukwuma, “We owe the youth a conducive environment to eke out a sustainable daily livelihood, especially with modern agriculture and agro-allied practices.

“There is a need for us leaders to come together and find ways to sort out the unemployment challenge among our youths in the zone holistically through opportunities provided by modern agricultural practices.

“When we completely sort out the issue of engaging every idle hand in the zone, almost 80 per cent of the challenges and agitation of the zone is solved,” he said.

The clergyman had on Monday warned pro-Biafra groups’ against the proposed ‘ghost Monday’ lockdown of the South-East until the release of IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, stating that such measures will destroy the South-East economy and impoverish Igbos.