Refrain from your protests now, Ohanaeze begs protesters
The Youth Wing of Ohaneze Ndigbo has called on Nigerians participating in the ongoing nationwide protests over the high cost of living to move beyond reactive demonstrations and adopt a more constructive approach to engaging with the government.
In a broadcast on Sunday, August 4, President Bola Tinubu appealed to the protesters to halt their demonstrations, assuring them that his administration was already taking steps to address their concerns and expressing his willingness to engage in dialogue. Despite this, the protests have continued since Monday.
Responding to the situation, acting national youth leader, Mazi Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu, acknowledged that the protests were driven by the accumulated effects of long-standing maladministration in the country.
However, he urged the people to re-strategise and pursue a more constructive path to secure their demands.
He emphasised that the blame should not rest solely on the Federal Government, insisting that state governors must also be held accountable.
He said: “After the Civil War, Ndigbo were made the promise of the three ‘R’ which were anticipated to help put the Civil War behind all of us.
However, that promise was not fulfilled but the Igbos, having reacted through the war, decided to respond with their talents and capacity.
Today, the Southeast region and her people are known for their commerce, industry, and enterprise, because the people chose to be more responsive than reactive.
“The protest today is in reaction to the effects of the accumulated maladministration in Nigeria.
Food insecurity was begotten by insecurity. For years now, our farmers do not go to farms, they do not produce food as usual and it is reflecting in the widespread hunger.
“But I am expecting Nigerians, especially the youths, having reacted through protests for these past days, and the president has come out to address the country, to now converge from reaction to response. Let us respond to our challenges and proffer solutions.
“Imagine the teeming youths that came out for this protest, being channeled to Agriculture and what can be achieved, just like what Gov Umaru Bago is doing in Niger State. It will turn things around, producing more food and addressing the challenge of food insecurity.
Also, when we all come to blame the Federal Government while nobody is giving attention to the State and Local Governments, then we are not being fair.
“The government in Nigeria has three tiers and we must hold them to account across the tiers. That is why we commend the Federal Government and the State Governors for the LG autonomy which will go a long way to address so many issues t
a the grassroots.”
