Nationwide protest: IYC calls on Niger Delta youth to take to the streets en masse

By Akinwale Kasali

The Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, supports the proposed nationwide protest on August 1, 2024 against the hardships and sufferings of the masses.

Alaye Theophilus, President of IYC Worldwide, said it is imperative for youth in the Niger Delta to protest peacefully against bad governance.

The IYC Chairman was reacting to statements by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Col. Lagbaja, Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, state governors, ministers and other senior government officials who urged Nigerians not to protest but to persevere and promised to address the situation.

According to Theophilus, Nigerians have protested at various times from the colonial period to the present administration to express their displeasure over poor governance. They wondered why the present administration is infringing on the rights of citizens to express their displeasure over the current hardships in the country.

He recalled how the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) government came to power in 2015 following protests against the then Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the federal government led by former President Goodluck Jonathan, over its inability to tackle rising insecurity, unemployment and corruption.

According to him, protesting is a universal right of citizens to draw the attention of the authorities so that they can examine and adjust their behavior, programs and policies for the overall development of the country.

“The hardships faced by the people of the Niger Delta, especially those in the interior, are becoming unbearable with a litre of fuel costing over N2,000, a litre of clean water costing N100 and other essential commodities having become beyond the reach of the people.

“Sudden deaths have become a common phenomenon in rural areas due to hunger and unspeakable suffering,” he said.

He advised security agents to be cautious in their approach and urged them not to be overzealous and brutal in monitoring the protest, so as to maintain law and order.