A coalition of 15 million Yoruba youths, under the aegis of Yoruba Council of Youths Worldwide (YCYW), has withdrawn from the planned nationwide protest against bad governance in Nigeria.
The Yoruba Youths Council Worldwide, an assembly of Nigeria youths from the six states in the South West geopolitical zone, at home and in the diaspora, hinged their action on the discovery of a hidden agenda by the promoters of the protest.
The youth council, at a press conference in Lagos, agreed that a peaceful protest or demonstration is an essential ingridient of democracy and remains a constitutional right of Nigerians.
However, the youths said the organisers of the “EndBadGovernance protest seem to be nursing a hidden agenda beyond a supposed peaceful protest, hence heating up the polity and creating fears among Nigerians.”
They stressed that, “Despite the laudable achievements of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration in barely over one year in office, it would be an act of ingratitude to think the best way to charge the government to put in more efforts is by pulling down the country in what looks like a sponsored protest.”
According to them, “As much as we all are aware of our trying time as a nation, it would equally be unpatriotic to burn down the country in a bid to drive home our demands. Many Nigerians are yet to recover from the losses they incurred during the dreaded ENDSARS PROTEST, when a lot of public assets went up in flames; businesses were looted and casualties recorded. Unfortunately for the dead ones, Nigeria continues to exist as one big nation even after them.
“It is impossible to think that decadence of over 16 years can be fixed in just one year by a government which is working round the clock to satisfy the citizens, including reducing hunger, insecurity, dwindling economy. All these didn’t start today, so one is forced to ask why the sudden curiosity?”
Consequently, the youth council appealed to “our fellow youths to see beyond regional, religious and tribal sentiments. But rather appreciate the government which has made some landmark achievements within a short time in office.”
The council listed the achievements of the President Tinubu administration to include:
. Reaching out and connecting to the grassroots through the approval of Local Government Autonomy.
. Recently approved students loan, first in the history of Nigeria.
. Laudable efforts in the agricultural sector by partnering with some state governments, like Niger State and others; distribution of over four (4) million bags of fertilizer in a calculated attempt to eradicate hunger caused by insecurity.
. Approval of over 100% increment in minimum wage to improve the living standard and reduce the hardships of rising cost of commodities.
. Increment in Federal allocations to states to ensure that the dividend of democracy reaches all and sundry.
. Pro-activeness of some of the appointees who have raised the bar beyond the usual and have proven that the Renewed Hope Agenda is not a scam; one of them is the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Mr Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, the NCS under his watch recently intercepted trailers load of illegal ammunition – the contraband was impounded.
In a press release signed by Amb. Shittu Ajibade Sunday, Northern Coordinator of the Council, the coalition stated that for the first time in history of Nigeria, the Nigeria Customs engaged hunger frontally by sharing free bags of seized rice to vulnerable Nigerians nationwide, adding that, “We have families and friends who are beneficiaries of this kind gesture.”
The youth council, therefore, reaffirmed “hope in this government,” and “we felt it’s totally wrong to think of inciting protest against a working government.”
They insisted that they have completely pulled out of the planned national protest,
advising other Nigerian youths “to shun any form of violence, and don’t hesitate to expose any evil around you under the guise of hunger protest, LET President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR Breath!”
