C'RIVER: Unions, CSOs, Youths, Student Bodies Distance Themselves from Nationwide Protest

By Missang Akpet

Organised Unions, civil Society Organisations youths and students in Cross River State have distanced themselves from the planned nationwide protest billed to start tomorrow August 1.

Briefing pressmen at the Metropolitan hotel, the organised bodies declared that the proposed protest is a faceless one which might bring back the 2020 ENDSARS experience.

The state chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Gregory Olayi, said the labour union will not be part of planned protest as anyone who decides to go out for protest is on his own and not in the name of the union.

Olayi said the nation is yet to recover from the effect of the ENDSARS adding that when issues of national concern arises, the labour union employs the option of dialogue with the government rather than resulting to violent protest.

The Chairman of Civil Societies Coalition Network in Nigeria Dr. McFellan Eja, said although there is hunger in the land, it is not enough for one to instigate a protest which might bring more hardship to people.

He revealed that every citizen has the right to protest but protest isn't the final resort to end bad governance.

In separate speeches, the state chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Comrade Emmanuel Olayi, the SUG President of the University of Calabar, Blessing Alims and that of the College of Education Akamkpa, Celestina Odey, maintained that as youths, they have taken the pains of sensitising the youths on the need to desist from the planned protest.

According to them, the state is privileged to have a listening governor who has put the needs of the people first adding that they the youths are saying yes to dialogue and no to protest.

The August 1st nationwide protest is aimed at ending bad governance in the nation and calling out the government to revamp the economy.