A coalition of Niger Delta youth stakeholders, led by Gen. Bodmas Kemepadei, staged a solidarity and sensitization walk at the East-west road, Mbiama axis, to propagate peace and advise Niger Deltans to shelve the national call for protest.
The group comprising of various youth organizations from the region urged Niger Deltans to maintain the existing peace enjoined in the region despite the realities of prevailing economic conditions which the region and entire nation is experiencing.
However, the agitations against hunger and bad governance is genuine as the country is currently facing harsh times which they declared their optimism that time and patience must be maintained as we channel our demands through robust negotiations.
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Group leader, General Bodmas Kemepade asserted that the “Niger Delta region is not part of the current nation wide protest of the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria EndBadGovernanceInNigeria in Nigeria because the National call for a protest is not in the agenda of issues affecting the average Niger Delta Citizen.
The Niger delta is a peculiar region and the demands of protesters in the North and other region is not in consonance to issues bedeviling our region, so we must shelve the protest and embrace other strategies which are peaceful and sustainable to expressing our challenges “.
General Bodmas who led the anti- protest campaign and solidarity walk for peace at the east west road reiterates the position of Niger Delta stakeholders whose demands are constructively about issues of the region which a peaceful negotiation will proffer solutions.
He commended the call for protests recognizing the importance and achievement made so far in the region but urged the people who maintain the existing peace in the region and that the region will not succumb to the advertisement for break down of law and order in the guise of protest against hunger.
Also, Mr. Stella Ogu a woman said the people were deceived to hold a protest against hunger and bad government which is timely but the fingers dragging the movement are not genuine because the east west road, issues of flooding and other pertinent challenges in the region are not captured in the demands of those inciting us to protest.
“We will not support our women , children and families to the road but we must look for channels and listen to stakeholders but we are appealing to government to help us because hunger and starvation is killing us” she spoke in blunt pidgin.
Furthermore , Comr. Timi Yagwe said peace is essential for development so must we not joining the protest and the people must not join. He commended the genuine engagement of stakeholders in the region such as ; Dr . Dennis Otuaro, High. Chief Oweizide Ekpemupolo , Dr. Sammy Ogbuku and other stakeholders for the engagements through expressing their position that the Region must not allow mischief makers, criminal elements, hoodlums and failed politicians to hijack the genuine process for a peaceful demonstration.
Finally, the coalition embarked on the sensitization tour to shop owners, motorists around the east west road including travelers who were concerned that the protest is a bad idea for business and economic activities in the region.
The group was greeted with solidarity laced with many complaints of hunger and bad governance from some sections who said that protest might metamorphosed into anarchy and riots that they might cry later ; like their experiences of endsars where their shops and properties was looted and protesters suffered casualties.