500,000 Ilorin Youths Dissociate Selves from planned protest in Ilorin
KEHINDE EMMANUEL,ILORIN
About 500,000 youths in Ilorin, Kwara State under the banner of Ilorin Emirate Youth Development Association (IEYDA,) have vowed not to partake in the looming planned nationwide strike.
The youths at an emergency meeting on Sunday said the strike is not only uncalled for but unpatriotic especially now that the present governments are doing all to register dividends of democracy across the country.
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The national president of the group, Alhaji Abdullahi Salau at a press conference though admitted downturn in the nation’s economy, he however urged for further dialogue and understanding, urging the initiators of the protests to otherwise join the government in offering lasting solutions to the seeming plights of Nigerians.
He said that though it is the inalienable right of the agitators and the protesters to register their pleasure, “we refuse to close our eyes to the imminent dangers and chaos that might come out of such protest,” he said.
According to him: “we acknowledge the challenges we face as people; the unbearable hardship but we must also consider the potential consequence of our actions,” adding: “let us not forget the past where protests were hijacked, leading to destruction of lives and properties. We must not be allowed to suffer same fate.
“Consequent on the above, we state unequivocally that as youths from across Ilorin Emirates, we would not partake in the protest planned to commence on Thursday.
“Further to this, we have engaged with the leadership of Community Development Associations (CDAs) and we are happy to report that we have achieved a near 100 per cent unanimity in respect of the matter at hand,” he disclosed.
He however pleaded: “we appeal to the organisers to shelve the planned protests and embrace peace, patience, and dialogue.”
Salau urged governments for Betty and prompt communication of its plans and policies as well as continue to ensure that dividends, palliatives, programs and benefits reach the grassroots in a nonpartisan manner.
