The Ijaw umbrella socio-cultural youth association, under the auspices of Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Worldwide, has declared readiness to mobilise Niger Delta youths for next week’s proposed nationwide protest.
President of the Ijaw Youth Council, worldwide, Alaye Theophilus, made the declaration while reacting to the directive by the Chief of Army Staff, Inspector General of Police, State Governors, Ministers and other top government functioneries, warning Nigerians and the organisers not to stage any protest.
In a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja, Alaye argued that Nigerians have at various times from the colonial era to the present dispensation protested to register their displeasure against bad governance, wondering why the present administration is kicking against citizens expressing disatisfaction over the current hardship in the country.
The IYC president also reminded the All Progressives Congress (APC) government that it rode to power in 2015 on the crest of protest against the then Peoples Democratic Party (PDP-led) federal government over its inability to tackle rising insecurity, unemployment and corruption.
Alaye equally asserted that protest is a universal right of citizens to draw the attention of those in authority to examine their conduct, programmes and policies and tailor such for the over all development of the country.
He further stated that the hardship faced by the people of the Niger Delta particularly those at the hinterlands is becoming unbearable as a litre of fuel now sells for over N2000, a sachet of water N100 while other essential commodities have gone beyond the reach of the people.
He said that:;”sudden death have become a common occurrence in the rural area due to hunger and untold suffering. I advice security agents to be cautious in their approach not to be overzealous and brutal while monitoring the protest in order to maintain law and order.”
