Hardship Protests, A Disaster Waiting To Explode, Revenge, Politically Motivated, We Won’t Join –Delta North Youths

By Daniel Dafe

A youth group in Delta North with members across the nine local government areas in the senatorial district, Delta North Youth Ethnic National Stakeholders, has said that the forthcoming ‘End Bad Governance’ protest is a disaster waiting to explode, saying youths in the said area will not participate in what they said is a “revenge and politically motivated protest.”

Briefing journalists in Asaba on Sunday, 28th July, 2024, after an enlarged meeting with members from the 9 local government areas in Delta North, Chairman/Convener, Hon Okaegwu Isioma Peter, added that “one of the biggest pillars of democracy and governance is citizens’ right and power.”

According to him, “this is so because the office of the citizen is supreme and power belongs to the people.”

He continued: “Delta North Youth Ethnic National Stakeholders stands in solidarity with the citizens of our great nation during these challenging times of economic hardship and great hunger in the land. We recognize and deeply empathize with the people’s pains, anger and frustration that many of our fellow Nigerians are experiencing. In this period of crisis, it’s imperative to uphold the Constitutional right of every citizen. We must also draw from our recent history.”

Furthermore, he said: “The #ENDSARS protest, though rooted in genuine grievance, was marred by tragic incidents, where miscreants hijacked the process. In the light of the planned protest scheduled to commence on 1st of August, Delta North Youth Ethnic National Stakeholders urges all Nigerians to consider alternative means of expressing their grievances,” stating: “We suggest giving the government more time to address these pressing needs. This period should be used to explore other legal options that will not give hoodlums opportunity to hijack the exercise to destroy our national assets or endanger lives and properties.”

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“We rather suggest dialogue, town hall meeting and media briefing,” he opined.

Furthermore, Peter said “urgent measures must be taken to put an end to kidnapping, banditry and killings that have plagued various parts of the country,” stressing that “the security and well-being of every Nigerian should be key,” just as he called on the government to expedite efforts to alleviate the hardship in the land.

He said further: “While we completely agree that there is unprecedented hunger in the land, we do not agree that the solution to end this hunger is to mobilize angry and hungry Nigerians to the street where they will be further exposed to the perpetually inhumanity to man.

“Using the sorry state of our national affairs to mobilize traumatized citizens to pursue and score bitter political points is not patriotism. As we seek to bring about positive change, let us do so with a spirit of peace, love and unity. Our strength lies in our ability to come together. “