President of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Anambra State Chapter, Chief Emeka Udodeme following reports of a planned nationwide protest against the economic hardship in the country, has appealed to youths in Anambra not to participate in the exercise.
Angel Network News (ANN) reports that
Chief Udodeme who made the stance of the group known to members of the press at the secretarait of the organization in Awka, revealed that the group is concerned that though the reasons for the protest are germane, it might be hijacked by unscrupulous elements.
They acknowledged the economic hardship in the country and the right of citizens to peaceful protest, but expressed worries that the protest might be hijacked by some unscrupulous individuals and groups who may have other ulterior motives and when such happens the protest would surely turn violet while the end result would be destructive.
The Apex Igbo Socio-Cultural Organization recalled the experiences of such protests in the past, especially as they affect Ndi Igbo such as the destructions, looting, and security architecture collapse that followed the #ENDSARS protest in 2020 and the currency re-design protest of February 2023 that led to the destruction of many banks and public properties.
Ohaneze Ndigbo, in view of this sad experience, passionately appealed to Ndi Anambra and Ndị Igbo across the nation, especially the youths, to distance themselves from the protest
They appealed to Ndi Anambra to heed the advice and refuse to be lured into taking part in the said protest, but to go their normal businesses peacefully without fear, as the police have assured of adequate security for Nigerians conducting themselves peacefully.
They further appealed to people in the commercial cities of Onitsha, Nnewi, Ekwuluobia and Awka to be law abiding and go about their normal businesses but to be extremely vigilant as any such protest in those cities could be easily hijacked by hoodlums whose sole aim would be to destroy and loot properties.
The apex Igbo socio-cultural organization also called on parents, guardians, Presidents General, and Traditional Rulers to dissuade their children, wards and subjects from participating in the demonstration, stating that the current hardship in the country no doubt is excruciating but the solution does not lie in taking to the street, instead, they urged Nigerians to remain prayerful and support the government in its efforts to turn the economy around by the various reforms it is introducing.
