Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Haruna (Rtd), on Sunday in Abuja called for programmes that will help steer youths away from immoral behavior, and impact the society with desirable sustainable culture.

Haruna, a former Federal Commissioner for Information and Culture, particularly called on governments at all levels to collaborate with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the private sector to drive the campaign.

He made the call during his investiture as the Grand Patron of the Centre for Ethical Rebirth among Nigerian Youths (CERANY), an NGO championing the campaign against drug abuse and other social vices among the youths.

Haruna, who used the occasion to celebrate his 81st birthday, added that the campaign is necessary to eradicate the root causes of political instability and other problems bedeviling the country such as insecurity and corruption.

According to him, high immorality has led the youths to violent demonstrations, drug abuse and various forms of indiscretions capable of tarnishing the image of the country and endangering the future generations.

“One of the major threats emerging from these frustrations are failure to assuage the pains of inability to provide for the well-being, security and progress of the people.

“This is because expectation are heightened and are unmet for the youth, who expect to survive in a climate of high expectations of entitlements from government and society in general.

“The imperative is to restore morals, ethics, rules of engagement in a democratic society and free and fair election, and good governance with peace, security and well-being of the citizens,” he said.

Haruna therefore called on every compatriot to support CERANY to promote and encourage the evolution of modern Nigeria.

Earlier, Mr Chuks Akamadu, President of CERANY, who noted that the organization had enjoyed the support of eminent Nigerians from inception in 2001, stated that “all hands must be united to build a greater Nigeria that we all deserve”.

According to him, there is the need to jealously guard moral health as well as physical well-being of the youths on whose shoulders rest the future of Nigeria.

He said that with the official launch of the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) by President Muhammadu Buhari on June 26, and in line with CERANY avowed commitment to complement efforts of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the organization shall continue to campaign against drug abuse.

Akamadu said that CERANY will commemorate its 20th anniversary in a few weeks time with an aggressive nationwide campaign against drug abuse which would be named “Maj.-Gen. Haruna Anti-Drug Abuse Nationwide Campaign”.

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He called on all Nigerians to support the fight against drug abuse and other immoral activities in the country for the good of all.

Akamadu called on Nigerians to unite in defeating “this hydra-headed monster called drug abuse”, saying apart from the havoc it wrecks on the family unit, it fuels insecurity in the land and leads to stroke, cancer, damage of blood vessels and others.