Vincent Ikechukwu – Abuja.
No fewer than thirty five (35) civil society groups have jettisoned the planned nationwide protest against hunger and bad governance in Nigeria. Addressing newsmen in what seemed like a last minute after-thought, the Executive Secretary of Reality Organization Worldwide Dr. Okey Ezeala and the Convener of Nigeria Civil-society Coalition Group (NCCG) Barr. Rahmat Idris after a press conference in Abuja, called on all patriotic citizens to stand in defense of the nation’s unity, expressing fears that the much touted national protest is becoming a tool in the hands of fair weather politicians who can go to any length to arm-twist the government and or destabilize the polity in pursuit of selfish interests.
The statement reads;
“As we speak today, the so called hunger protesters are lodging in expensive hotels in Abuja, Lagos and other major cities across Nigeria, while others have ferried their families abroad with their flight tickets ready to jet out once they succeed in setting Nigeria on fire.
It is clear from all indications that the much touted national protest is a fifth column script aimed at taking undue advantage of the poor masses who are already navigating the temporary effects of the current policy regime.
The big question is;
HOW MANY OF THE REAL SUFFERING NIGERIANS ARE READY TO ESCAPE SUCH UPRISING? It is the local businesses that will be worst of it.
HOW MANY OF THESE FACELESS PROTEST SPONSORS ARE READY TO LEAD IN THE FRONT OF THE BATTLE? – The poor masses are always the victims of every violence, wether protest or riots
HOW MANY OF THEIR KIDS ARE EVEN SCHOOLING IN NIGERIA? – our students should know that any disruption of academic calendar will further worsen their situation.
WHO’S PROPERTY WILL BE LOOTED IN THE NAME OF PROTEST? – petty traders and shop owners be wise and protect your businesses.
We understand the excruciating effects of some policies of government and we appreciate the urgent interventions from the federal government to cushion the effects – but he needs our support to salvage the situation, not blame game.
Granted that Nigeria is in dare need of urgent policy overhaul, but protest is certainly not the answer at this point, dialogue is and has always been the civilized option. We cannot afford to risk the life and businesses of over 200million striving population – even as we enjoin the federal government to hasten the palliative approach, policy and structural innovations to address the public demands.
The task of nation-building is everybody’s business, hence the need for the public and private sector cooperation, the civil society and all federating units to complement efforts of the presidency – especially in justifying the current double monthly allocations and palliative measures States receive from the federal government.
We therefore retract and refuse to be used by anybody at this very critical time of our national economic recovery and thus urgently call on all our youth and women wings and structures across the 36 states of the federation and the FCT to boycott the ill fated protest – as it is obviously politically motivated against our collective will as a people”.
The press statement also welcomed the earlier calls by various opinion leaders, trade unions, youth groups, civil and faith organizations dissociating themselves from the planned protest, a development widely seen as an indication of a collective will by all Nigerians irrespective of ethnic or religious bias to build a greater country.
