Leadership of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Delta State Chapter, has directed its members in the state not to participate in the planned nationwide protest tagged #EndBadGovernanceinNigeria, scheduled to commence August 1st across the country.
In a communique read by its State Chairman, Ambassador Kenneth Okorie at the end of an enlarged meeting in Asaba, the Council said emphatically that its members were not going to participate in the protest because of the potential and ugly consequences that may arise from the planned protest.
While acknowledging the fact that protests are part of freedom of expression under democracy, the Council said it was, however, concerned as the umbrella body of various youth groups that the proposed demonstrations could be hijacked by hoodlums to the detriment of the security of lives and property.
According to the communique, the Council was not and has not been consulted till date on the possible ways and plans the youths will participate in the protest, point of meeting, hour of meeting and endpoint, stressing that the Council cannot lose any of its members on a protest they knew nothing about.
“Arising from the last End-SARS protest, we are not ready to suffer the social and economic losses of demonstrations again, now that the conveners are unknown to us.
“The tendency of hijacking the process by street urchins is very likely with unimaginable outbreak of violence and
criminality.
“The leadership of the council, therefore, directs all chapters, wards, state and affiliate bodies not to participate in the forth coming protest.
“The council, as the authoritative voice of youths, wish to assure all our members that we will continue to safeguard their best interests and expectations, working in collaboration with the state Governor and other stakeholders,” the NYCN added in the communique.
In an interview with journalists, a former State Chairman of the NYCN, Hon. Hope George applauded the decision of the state Council not to participate in the planned national protest, adding that there was no need for such protest in the state as the state governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori was doing excellently well in fast-tracking sustainable development through the MORE Agenda of his administration.
