In a move that some might call “chickening out,” the Enugu Innovative Youth group has opted out of participating in any “destructive protests” despite Nigeria’s worsening hunger and economic woes. Clearly, they must be enjoying the current state of affairs more than the rest of the country.
At a press conference on Friday, the group, representing all 17 local government areas of Enugu State, pledged their commitment to peace and stability under Governor Peter Mbah’s administration. Despite acknowledging the dire state of the nation, including rampant hunger, financial struggles, and a sky-high debt ratio, the group’s Publicity Secretary, Jude Aniagu, highlighted the progress being made in Enugu.
They understand the reasons behind the Nationwide Hunger Protest set for August 1-10, 2024, but they urge their peers to reconsider. After all, why protest when Enugu is apparently rolling in a “breath of fresh air”?
“We are aware of the risk of the protest being hijacked by hoodlums,” Aniagu said. “Enugu youths must withdraw to protect our state’s peace and productivity. We can’t afford to relapse into chaos and infrastructural decay.”
The group is concerned about potential violence and the loss of young lives in a protest that could be hijacked by troublemakers with sinister motives. Instead, they call for dialogue with both the Federal Government and Governor Mbah to address unemployment and poverty among the youth.
“We know the state government has plans for job creation and training in IT and entrepreneurship. We shouldn’t risk our lives but rather aim to benefit from these opportunities,” Aniagu added.
The group’s stance is clear: maintain peace, avoid destruction, and focus on the progress being made under Governor Mbah’s leadership. They emphasize that any protest in Enugu would only undermine the governor’s efforts to revive the state’s infrastructure.
In their view, staying out of the protests is the best way to preserve Enugu’s stability and benefit from the governor’s “massive infrastructural projects.”
