…Urge N-Delta youths to shun nationwide hardship protests

By Emem Idio, Yenagoa

YENAGOA – A coalition of Niger Delta youth stakeholders on Friday staged a solidarity peace and anti-protest walk along the Mbiama axis of the East-West Road to preach peace and advise Niger Deltans to shun the nation’s protest.

The coalition comprising youth organizations from the region and led by self-styled ‘Gen’ Bodmas Kemepadei, brandished placards with different inscriptions such as, ” We have listened to our leaders, we say no to protests,” “We stand with our leaders, we say no to protest,” “Niger Delta is not part of any protest,” “Our leaders have spoken, we say no to protests.”

The leader of the coalition ‘Gen’ Bodmas Kemepadei while urging Niger Deltans to maintain the existing peace currently being enjoyed in the region despite the realities of prevailing economic conditions that the region and entire nation is experiencing, however, pointed out the agitations against hunger and bad governance is genuine as the country is currently facing harsh times.

He expressed optimism that time and patience must be maintained and stated that demands should be channeled to the appropriate authorities for robust dialogue and negotiations.

Kemepadei said it is important to appreciate the achievements made so far in the region and urged the people to maintain the existing peace in the region, stressing that the region will not succumb to the advertisement for break down of law and order in the guise of protest against hunger.

His words: “Niger Delta region is not part of the current nationwide #EndbadGovernance# protest because the call for a protest is not in the agenda of issues affecting the average Niger Delta citizen. The Niger Delta is a peculiar region and the demands of protesters in the North and other region is not in consonance to issues bedeviling our region, so we must shelve the protest and embrace other strategies which are peaceful and sustainable to express our challenges.

“We the youths of the Niger Delta have aligned with the position of our leaders and stakeholders whose demands are constructively about issues of the region which a peaceful negotiation will proffer solutions.”

Speaking on behalf of women, Ms Stella Ogu, said: “We will not support our women, children, and families to protest on the road but we must look for channels and listen to stakeholders, but we are appealing to the government to help us because hunger and starvation is real

“The people were deceived to hold a protest against hunger and bad government though timely but the motives are not genuine because the East/ West Road, issues of flooding, and other pertinent challenges affecting the Niger Delta region are not captured in the demands of those inciting us to protest. “

Also speaking Comrade Timi Yagwe who described peace as essential for development, commended the genuine engagement of stakeholders in the region such as; Presidential Amnesty boss Dr . Dennis Otuaro, High. Chief Oweizide Ekpemupolo, Managing Director and Chief Executive of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, and other stakeholders for their engagements through expressing their position that the region must not allow mischief makers, criminal elements, hoodlums, and failed politicians to hijack the protest.

As part of the sensitization rally, the youths engaged traders, shop owners, motorists, and travelers along East/West Road, and admonished them to jettison the idea of protest as it would disrupt Socio-economic life and activities and endangered lives and property.