Chetanne Chinelo, Enugu
Sequel to plans to commence the nationwide protests against hardship and hunger in Nigeria tomorrow, the leadership of the Youth wing of the Enugu State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, led by Hon. Chidiebere Ezeh have called on young Nigerians to shelve the idea of protests and embrace dialogue.
The youth wing arrived at this decision after an emergency meeting of the members drawn from the seventeen local government areas of the state, held on Tuesday, July 30, 2024, at the state party office in GRA, Enugu.
Leadership of the Youth wing of Enugu APC led by Hon. Chidiebere Ezeh (Middle)
Speaking with newsmen, Ezeh, who was a former Nkanu West local government council chairmanship candidate of the APC, dissociated the youth wing of the party from the proposed national protest and demonstration, declaring that the protest will not solve any problem rather, “it will impoverish the ordinary people”.
Mr. Ezeh noted that although the nation was battling a struggling economy, the situation could be salvaged with engagements and dialogue, explaining that President Tinubu has shown the will to steer the fortunes of the nation for good in one year.
In his words: “It is obvious that Nigerians are facing a lot of hardship presently which Enugu State is not excluded from. We agree with the fact that things are not easy, but we believe that you don’t solve such issues with violence. There are ways of settling issues rather than violence or protest.
“Therefore, all the Youth Leaders present today now agree that we will embark on consultation and dialogue with the Federal government rather than going for protest. We have agreed that we will not go on protest because one year is not enough for Mr. President to fix the Nigerian economy.
“We have expressed our grievances to the Federal government on issues and challenges bothering the youth constituency and other segments of the society in Enugu state and Nigeria as a whole.
“We just had a meeting with various groups. Since the government has promised to progressively address some of our grievances, we are saying no protest in Enugu State especially now the President has granted Local Government Autonomy which will bring the government closer to the people especially the rural dwellers”.
Ezeh reiterated their unalloyed loyalty to the Leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and its Renewed Hope Agenda, and that of Chief Uche Nnaji Nwakibie, the Honourable Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology.
A collage of the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji Nwakibie and Hon. Chidiebere Ezeh, Leader, Enugu APC Youth wing
Present at the meeting were the State Deputy Youth Leader, Hon. John Nebo among other youth leaders from the 3 Senatorial zones and 17 Local Government Areas of the State.
Earlier, the Deputy Governorship candidate of the party in the 2023 general elections, Barr. George Ogara met with the Enugu APC Youth wing.