Amid the call for the suspension of the ongoing protest by President Bola Tinubu, the National Convener of Southern Youth Development Forum, (SYDF), Pastor Bassey James, has commended South-East governors for maintaining peace and calmness in the regions from the start of the protest.
James also commended the good people of the region, especially the youths, for abstaining from protest and not allowing themselves to be used as agents of destruction across some states in Nigeria.
He commended the president for extending an invitation to dialogue with the protesters while also calling for the convergence of national dialogue to discuss issues affecting the country.
James, who is also the Chancellor of Akpaboism Centre, disclosed that the massive destruction and economic losses factored by the 2020 EndSARS protest are still fresh in the memories of some Nigerians.
He therefore appealed to Nigerians to support President Tinubu as he strives to revive the economy, noting that the president came in at a time when the economy was collapsing.
He stated, “I commend Governors in the Southeast and Southsouth regions of the country, the youths and good people of the region for ensuring that peace is maintained in the region.
“Since he came on board over a year ago, President Bola Tinubu inherited a near-collapse economy and he has been doing his best to revive the economy and put it on sound footing. We need to support him and stand by him in the economy recovery journey and ensure that Nigeria gets better among the comity of nations.
“I equally thank the people for listening to their leaders and obeying the appeals not join the protest. We don’t want to our youths to be used to destroy our regions. We want development. We want peace and social integration, just this week, the federal government under President Tinubu’s administration has just signed the Southeast Development Commission bill into law. This will bring massive infrastructures to the region and so we are ready to be partners in progress with the federal government.
“Our youths should embrace alternatives which is national dialogue. We should be able to organise regional, state and national dialogue where issues affecting the youths and Nigerians will be discussed. If the protest holds, the enemies of Nigerians and hoodlums will hijack it to cause mayhem and vandalise national assets. The sour memories of the 2020 EndSARS protest still live with us. Therefore from the stance of Southern Youths Movement, we are planning a national youth conference this October.
“There is no alternative to dialogue. There is no alternative to unity and peace of our great nation. The president came in at a time everything was collapsing. The removal of fuel subsidy further compounded this situation because it had to go. The former President Buhari made no provision for it the 2023 budget therefore it has to go and what we are experiencing now is Tinubu’s administration struggling to cope with the effects at the aftermath of the removal.”
The International Coordinator, SYDF, Gerald Obielom assured Nigerians of a better and stable economy under Tinubu’s administration.
He said, “We are standing for the truth. Today, the people of Southeast are ready to join hands together with the federal government to create a peaceful environment for the development of our region. The whole world knows that our people are business-oriented and want a conducive environment to do business in Nigeria. We want the nation to know that Igbo people appreciate what the federal government is doing especially the appointments of our people in important positions in government, the Southeast Development Commission, and the synergy between the states and the federal government.”
Speaking on the youth conference slated to hold in September, he said, “ It will create more opportunities for people in the region to build a strong political relationship with the federal government. We are preaching unity to our people in the diaspora to support President Tinubu’s administration. This is the time for peace, unity and progress. The forthcoming youth leaders conference is scheduled to take place in Abuja, Kaduna, Owerri, Uyo and Lagos and will be used to build a strong cohesion among our people. We must reunite, join hands together to support the federal government, we must be peace and unity ambassadors in Nigeria.
“We want to thank our people for not allowing themselves to be used to disrupt the peace in southeastern Nigeria. We will continue to preach unity, love and togetherness amongst our people. The message is now becoming clearer that we want our regions to benefit from the federal government which has shown commitment in the development of infrastructures, and ensuring that our people are in strategic positions in government.”
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