Shun Hunger, Hardship Protest IYC to Ijaw Youths.

Shun Hunger, Hardship Protest IYC to Ijaw Youths.

The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Western Zone, has directed its members nationwide to "abstain" from the hunger hardship protest kicking off this Thursday while urging them to "focus on local issues that directly impact the Ijaw nation". 

"Our energies should be directed towards tackling challenges within our immediate environment", the group said in a statement jointly signed by Nicholas Igarama,Ebi Joshua Olowolayemo Esq. and Tare Magbei, the Chairman, Secretary and Information Officer respectively, copies of which were made available to journalists in Warri, Delta State on Wednesday.

The statement noted that "the demands of the organizers of the proposed nationwide protest, which includes implementation of the resolutions reached at the 2014 National Confab, reduction of petrol and gas prices, fixing and putting local refineries into use, among other demands are timely and in order".

Also, it affirmed that Nigeria is currently faced with diverse and severe economic hardship labels occasioned by the implementation of poorly thought-out policies like the hike in pump price of petrol and electricity tariff.

It however posited that "the Ijaw Youth Council, Western Zone and its national body was not duly consulted nor carried along by organizers of the proposed protest in the design of their demands".

According to the group, "IYC, the most structured and reputable youth organisation in sub-Saharan Africa, will not be coerced into partaking in a protest that is organized by faceless entities with no actionable plans".

It further said that "the proposed  #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protest themed '10 Days of Rage' has so much unexplainable undertones and symptoms of a revolution, and bears so much risk".

The group submitted that "after thorough deliberation and consideration of the current sociopolitical climate and the interests of our people, the proposed protest lacks a unified and strategic leadership structure. This ambiguity can lead to mismanagement of the protests, reducing their effectiveness and increasing the risk of unintended consequences". 

The statement partly reads, "Protests of this nature can escalate quickly, leading to unintended consequences such as property damage, loss of lives, and increased tension between communities. Hence, our people must avoid actions that could result in long-term detriments to our society.

"There is a significant risk that the protest could be infiltrated by elements with ulterior motives, leading to chaos and violence. Such a scenario would only serve to tarnish the image of the Ijaw nation and jeopardize the safety of our youths.

"The Niger Delta has recently enjoyed a period of relative peace and stability. This protest could disrupt this hard-earned tranquility and potentially lead to violent clashes, which could further undermine our struggles with development efforts. 

"As a community, we treat with respect the counsel of the National Executive Council and prominent leaders of Ijaw nation, and their calls for us to shun the protest is based on a deep understanding of the potential risks involved.

"While we recognize the importance of addressing bad governance at the national level, it is crucial that we also focus on local issues that directly impact the Ijaw nation. Our energies should be directed towards tackling challenges within our immediate environment.

"Conclusively, the Ijaw Youth Council, Western Zone, strongly advises all Ijaw youths to abstain from the proposed #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protest owing to the aforementioned standpoints of Council". 

The statement maintained that the commitment of the Ijaw Youth Council to peace, stability and constructive engagement "remains unwavering" and urged members to "continue to work together for the betterment of our community through peaceful and progressive means".