Planned Protest: Dialogue Remains Best Option, C'River Lawmaker Advises Students
By Ebi COLLINS
As calls against the planned protest on August thickens, the Member representing Etung State Constituency in the House of Assembly, Hon. Kingsley Isong, on Friday, has urged Cross River students to boycott the cutthroat plan against the nation, and advised them to rather resort to dialogue as the best elixir for resolution of challenges facing the country.
The lawmaker who told newsmen that the mediation with the student community at University of Calabar, UNICAL, Malabor Hostel, was part of his birthday engagements, amid prevailing economic realities, maintained that in seeking for improved livelihood and better economic policies, Nigerians must not repeat the mistake of 2020 ENDSARS protest that rocked the nation to its very core, with affected states, including Cross River, yet to recover from the carnage.
The Etung-born legislator reminded the students who cut across all facets of the student union government and its affiliates that peaceful protests, albeit being the fundamental right of citizens, no matter how well-intentioned, is oftentimes hijacked eventually by enemies of the state, leading to loss of lives and wanton destruction of property of government and individual businesses.
He proposed an alternative measure for government to always engage students as well as other sectors of society in town hall meetings, where leaders can interface with the masses, feel their pulse, and find a way to solve the teething challenges bothering them.
Hon. Isong assured the student community that the governor Bassey Otu-led administration is working round the clock to assuage for Cross Riverians the harsh economic challenges plaguing the country, reminding them of the huge impact already made by the present leadership.
In their various responses, student representatives bared their minds on the harrowing economic experiences, but however promised to keep away from any protest that may inhibit their academic programme, the state or nation at large.
