By Adadareporters
Ahead of the August 1st to 10th planned nationwide protests to draw the attention of the federal government to the unending hardship being passed through by Nigerians orchestrated by government policies, some Igbo stakeholders have advised against the participation of Ndigbo, warning that they would be made the sacrificial lamb of the exercise.
Gov Hope Uzodinma of Imo State earlier said those behind the planned protests were enemies of Nigeria who want to destabilise the national government. He warned the youths of South East to shun the protests, adding that, “Because we are on the path of growth, our enemies are trying to disorganise national government. The government of President Bola Tinubu is our government. We are aware things are hard, but the president is working so hard to deliver infrastructure to the people and increase food security to the people.”
Speaking on the matter, the Enugu State coordinator, APC National Coalition for Good Governance, Ebubeagu Felix Okafor, said, “The government has not done enough to address the welfare of the youths. Government should be more sensitive to the people. The Buhari government marginalised South East, and nobody protested. We want peace in the South East no matter the odds. The planned protest may be hijacked by bad elements, and wreak havocs on out region.”
He advised that the planned protests might be politically motivated, and could scuttle efforts to free Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from detention: “Yes, Nigerians are passing through pains, but some disgruntled politicians can be promoting the protests. We should be watchful of the dynamics of the protests: South West and the North are championing it. The regions enjoyed humanitarian grants and ago-palliatives during the Buhari regime. South East remained resilient. Security agents will easily open fire on Igbo protesters because they have no shields. We should disregard the calls.”
A factional secretary general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, toed the same line. He said, “The prevailing security challenges in the South-East region pose insurmountable obstacles to the safe conduct of protests and riots. Enforcing such protests risks exacerbating the existing security dilemmas in the South East, creating opportunities for criminal elements and external Igbo detractors to exploit the situation and instigate further chaos. Thus, it is in the best interest of all concerned parties to refrain from organizing any protests within the region.”
However, the leader, Concerned Igbo Stakeholders Forum, Dr Ephraim Okenwa, said the planned protests were in reaction to insensitive government policies, adding that, “Protest is in the constitution to show that it is no longer business as usual.
What happened in Kenya is the inspiration. We expect our leaders to learn from the
Kenyan experience. Security agencies should protect the protesters because they will also benefit from good government policies. Government should know that things have fallen apart. Civil servants don’t spend in dollars. Inflation has risen to above 34%. But the government is changing the National Anthem, buying a presidential jet and renovating the vice-president’s lodge at N21bn, and spending on other trivialities.”
