South-East stakeholders rally youths, others against nationwide protest

…Say real intention, sponsors unknown

A stakeholders forum from the South-east region under the platform of South East Youth Development for Good Governance and Better Development (SEYDGGBD), has pleaded with youths from the zone to shun the planned August 1st nationwide protest.

The group, which comprises of political figures across different political parties, professionals, businessmen and women, emerging leaders, students and Diasporans, said the real motivates of the organisers of the protest and their identities are not known, hence the people of the region should be circumspect and not to participate.

In a statement released after an emergency meeting of the Stakeholders on Thursday in Abuja, signed by its National Coordinator, Hon. Henry Ejiofor Asogwa, said the region should not pay good for evil even as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu recently accented to the South East Development Commission Bill.

The group reminded the people of the zone to bear in mind the efforts of the region’s governors and individuals in securing the freedom of Nnamdi Kanu.

Ejiofor Asogwa said the bill assented to by the President will amplify the commitment to the real rehabilitation and reconstruction of the South-East, 54 years after the civil war.

According to Hon. Ejiofor, the recent development in the South-east by both the federal and the state governments, especially the commissioning of Abia Power Projects, which is one of its kind, will Abia state to enjoy 24 24-hour electricity supply which will revive major industries in the South-East region.

He said: As a forum, we are making g this national call to South East youths and others across Nigeria not to allow faceless individuals to use them.

“As a region, we are grateful to President Ahmed Bola Tinubu for signing South East Development Commission Bills, and also to South East leaders that facilitated the bill.

“We are out today to discourage the South easterners from involving themselves in the well-publicised nationwide protest for the major reason of the ongoing developmental strides that the present government has put in place, and the good work the present crop of Governors in the region are doing.”

Commenting on the economic situation in the country, the statement urged Nigerians to understand that President Tinubu needs more time for all his promising policies to come to fruition.

“We are discouraging our kinsmen against the protest because most of the sponsors are faceless and, quiet, unlike other protest that the organizers are known.

“Again, we do not know the real intention of the organizers, therefore, we will not support violent protest that can lead to the loss of lives of our hardworking brothers and sisters as a result of the protest.

“Also, aside from distracting the governments at all levels, this action will create more hunger while many people may lose their means of livelihood.”

The statement urged Nigerians, especially the Southeasterners to give President Tinubu the benefit of the doubt based on his recent promise to end the suffering of the masses through some of his policies and programmes.