The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Western Zone, has urged youths in the zone and the Niger Delta region to shun the nationwide protest scheduled to commence from August 1-10, 2024.
In a statement by its Chairman, Comrade Nicholas Igarama; Secretary, Comrade Ebi Joshua Olowolayemo Esq; and Information Officer, Tare Magbei, on Wednesday, the group noted that the country is currently facing severe economic hardship caused by the implementation of poorly thought-out policies.
The IYC stressed that while the demands of the organizers of the proposed nationwide protest are timely and in order, the IYC, Western Zone, and its national leadership were not duly consulted in the design of these demands.
The statement reads in part:
“The IYC, as the most structured and reputable youth organization in sub-Saharan Africa, will not be coerced into participating in a protest organized by faceless entities with no actionable plans.
“The proposed #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protest, themed ’10 Days of Rage,’ has many unexplainable undertones and symptoms of a revolution, which poses significant risks.
“The proposed protest lacks a unified and strategic leadership structure. This ambiguity could lead to mismanagement of the protest, reducing its effectiveness and increasing the risk of unintended consequences.
“Demands concerning the development of the Niger Delta, such as the East-West Road and environmental remediation of the Niger Delta, are not captured in the proposed protest.
“There is a need for all International Oil Companies (IOCs) to relocate their headquarters to the Niger Delta region to boost its economic fortunes; this was not included in the demands for the nationwide protest.”
The statement asserted that the exclusion of Niger Deltans by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) from its onshore divestment initiative, which is a major concern for the region, is also not addressed in the organizers’ demands.
“As a community, we respect the counsel of the National Executive Council and prominent leaders of the Ijaw nation. Their call 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 toward tackling challenges within our immediate environment,” the statement posited.
While calling on the Federal Government to discontinue the divestment of SPDC’s onshore assets until Ijaw sons and daughters are included in the bidding and sales process, the IYC revealed that they will shut down the company’s oil and gas exploration activities if they are not included.
The IYC, which further advised Ijaw youths to abstain from the proposed #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protest, equally restated their commitment to peace, stability, and constructive engagement with relevant authorities and stakeholders.
