Yola Based Group Charge Youths To Partake in Peaceful Protest Against Bad Governance

Yola based group charge youths to partake in peaceful protest against bad governance

From Umar Dankano,Yola.

Despite calls by several stakeholders in the government and private circles for a withdrawal from the planned hunger and bad governance protest in Nigeria, a Yola based youth group under the aupieces “Adamawa like -minds” has maintain its stand on moblising for the protest in Adamawa state.

Addressing a press conference in Yola Wednesday, the leader of the group, Comrade Danladi Jonah alias’Danlemu’ said joining the peaceful protest to push for change of bad government policies had became “imperative” considering the rising state of insecurity, high cost of living,low income, high price of petroleum products, high electricity tariff, high unemployment rates, bad economic policies in the country.

Activist Jonah fumes decrying that, the ongoing hardship forced the law-abiding citizens to show their grievances to the government through peaceful protest adding that they are not ignorant of the provisions of section 40 of the 1999 constitution which gives citizens the right to peaceful assembly.

Jonah stressed that, all efforts by well-meaning Nigerians to call the attention of government at various levels on some of their bad policies which is gradually sinking our dear nation proof abortive.

“They have now forced us to use one of our last two strongest weapons which is protest, the other which is to vote them out; but more than two years is a long time to endure suffering before we can be able to vote them out.

“The government palliative measures are not working, the ordinary Nigerian can’t afford a decent meal twice a day. Citizens are under paid; we no longer have value for our money. Just on Monday, Adamawa state commissioner for Information said “they are yet to receive the rice promised by the federal government”, how do they want the citizens to survive?

“We want to use this medium to call on the citizens to peacefully express themselves while matching on the streets of Adamawa state, avoid provocations and be law abiding before, during and after the peaceful protest.On the other hand, we are calling on the security agencies to adequately provide security for the protesters as well as safely guard lives and properties especially government assets during the protest.

“To those, calling for no peaceful protest, how many of you spoke to power on the current situation of the country before now? How many of you have rendered a helping hand out of your abundance to your neighbors or community? After we forced the government to do the needful, you and your children and your siblings should come out shamelessly and enjoy the benefits of our struggles.

“We shall not keep quiet and fold our arms when our destiny is being decided wrongly and our future is a Just because it doesn’t affect you directly doesn’t mean is not your business”.The group maintained.

Jonah while urging the youths to come out in their numbers for the protest quoted Late chief Obafemi Awolowo and legend Martin Luther King Junior saying “the children of the poor that you fail to train (feed), will never let your children live in peace” and “there comes a time when silence is a betrayal”.

He also encourage the youths to be brave in securing the future of their children warning that “Don’t support evil today because it favors you, it may turn against you the next minutes”.

Recalls that the federal government as well as private bodies have been calling on Nigerians especially the youths to shelve the idea of protesting advocating for dialogue instead for fear break down of law and order as happened in neighboring countries like Kenya and others recently.