Shun protests, embrace dialogue – Youth leaders tell Nigerians

By Abubakar Yunusa

The apex leadership of the Nigeria Ethnic Nationality Youth Leaders, Worldwide, has urged organizers of the planned nationwide demonstration 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 followed reports of a youth-led nationwide protest planned to address the country’s economic hardship. However, federal and state governments, including President Tinubu, have appealed to the youths to postpone the planned protest. Religious and traditional institutions have also called for its cancellation.
At a press conference in Abuja on Sunday, Comrade Terry Obieh, President General, Niger Delta Ethnic Nationalities Youth Leaders/President General, NENYLCW, 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 analyze the intent of the protest and its organizers.
“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.”