Ahead of the planned nationwide protest on August 1, ex-militants under the aegis of “Akwa Ibom Ex-Agitators Forum” have warned youths in the state against taking part in the exercise.
They noted that the protest was a threat to the existing peace in the state and would be counterproductive.
Addressing a press conference in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital, on Wednesday evening, the chairman of the forum, Alban Paulinus, said the group has deployed members whom he described as “anti-protesters” in strategic places in the state to protect public infrastructure and forestall any form of vandalism and looting.
According to him: “We are here to tell the world that we say no to faceless protests. We, at the Akwa Ibom Ex-Agitators Forum, are saying that Akwa Ibom State is a very peaceful state and we will not allow any faceless group to disturb the peaceful atmosphere we are enjoying here.
“If there is any need to protest, it is we in Akwa Ibom that should protest. Why we will not want to protest because our brother, the number three citizen, the Senate President, is there and we say not in his time. We will go about our normal businesses and we implore every Akwa Ibom resident not to be cowed into any faceless protest, go about your normal businesses.
“At this critical time, leading a protest could be counterproductive and jeopardise public peace. Instead, we call on the government to address the pressing issue of hunger and improve the living conditions of our citizens. We believe in maintaining peace and stability in our state and our nation. While acknowledging the economic challenges faced by Nigerians, we emphasise the need for constructive dialogue and collaboration with the government to find lasting solutions.”
He also added: “By urging our youths to shun the planned protests, we aim to prevent potential violence and promote a more peaceful approach to addressing our country’s economic woes.
“As ex-agitators in the struggle to build a Niger Delta we can call our own, we strictly warn that no one, under the guise of protest, should attack individuals, loot, or steal. Looting must be condemned. Our members are already mobilised across the state to protect our infrastructure. Our public institutions belong to all Akwa Ibomites and were built with our resources. Therefore, no one should attack any office, public institution, or government infrastructure. Members of our forum are deployed everywhere in the state to defend our public utilities with their last drop of blood.”
Appealing to Nigerians to be patient with President Bola Tinubu, he stressed that one year is not enough to build a nation.
Emphasising why Akwa Ibom will not join in the protest, Johnson Solomon, the secretary of the group, noted: “When we were shouting about marginalisation, no one listened to us and now you want us to collaborate to carry out the protest. We say no. We at the Niger Delta are coming out en masse to be like anti-protesters to the faceless group tomorrow.”
The chairman of Obollo Youths, Emmanuel Essang, said in his remark: “The days of taking to the streets have passed and we are in the era of intellectual struggle. The president has heard the yearnings of Nigerians and he will address them. Rome was not built in a day.”
We reject faceless protests in Akwa Ibom – Ex-militants warn