Youth group urges Nigerians to shun protests, embrace dialogue

The apex leadership of the Nigeria Ethnic Nationality Youth Leaders Worldwide, organisers of the planned nationwide demonstration, has urged Nigerians to shun protests and embrace dialogue with the federal government, stating that protests are not the solution to Nigeria’s problems.

The group’s decision follows reports of a youth-led nationwide protest planned to address the country’s economic hardship.

However, federal and state governments, including President Bola Tinubu, have appealed to the youths to postpone the planned protest. Religious and traditional institutions have also called for its cancellation.

The President General, Niger Delta Ethnic Nationalities Youth Leaders/President General (NENYLCW), Comrade Terry Obieh, disclosed this in Abuja during a press briefing.

He said that after meeting and reviewing the situation, the group has declared its non-participation in the protest and condemns it in its entirety.

He said: “We have observed closely over the past few weeks as a section of Nigerians planned what they called nationwide protests against bad governance. We took the time to analyse the intent of the protest and its organisers.

“We are aware of the current hardship in the country, but it is essential to remind Nigerians that these problems are surmountable.

“All we need is to chart a common path forward through constructive criticism and engagement through a robust, nationwide dialogue campaign, sensitization, and movement, free from unwarranted interference and intimidation.

“We are informing Nigerian youths that we are not part of the protest because we were not involved in the planning. Regrettably, some identified individuals and politicians have decided to weaponize the pain and anguish of downtrodden Nigerians.

“We are fully aware that hoodlums are planning to hijack the process. As the apex youth organisation in the country with over 407 ethnic nationalities organisations, we were not included, while politicians and other personalities abroad are planning to weaponize and use hapless Nigerians to achieve their inordinate selfish motives.”

He said to urgently prevent the hijacking of the protest and the escalation of violence in our country, we call on Nigerians to abandon the proposed national protest and join hands with our organisation.

“Unfortunately, there are credible security reports that this protest will be hijacked by the enemies of the country, who are determined to set the country ablaze, as evidenced by the #EndSARS and Kenya’s disturbances.

“We reaffirm our earlier position of solidly supporting the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, based on verifiable evidence of his good intentions to lift Nigeria and Nigerians out of adversity.

“While we acknowledge the challenges facing the country, we do not believe that protests are the solution. Instead, we should all remain patient with the government as it makes conscious efforts to restore the country’s fortunes.

“Without hesitation, we reiterate that the entire Nigerian youth has confidence in President Tinubu’s government and would not do anything to jeopardise its efforts. In most cases, improvement follows a period of difficulty, and that is the current situation in the country.

“Anyone seeking to use the youth as sacrificial lambs and instruments of violence under the guise of protest should look elsewhere. Never again will we allow ourselves to be victims of such a nationwide evil action.”