A coalition of youth leaders across Plateau communities has announced their decision not to participate in the planned nationwide protest scheduled for August 1, 2024. The protest, organized by unidentified individuals, has raised significant concerns among the youth leaders.
During a press conference held at the NUJ Secretariat in Jos, Mr. Pololis Gyang, a youth leader from Rock Haven community, voiced the coalition’s apprehensions. He revealed that they are aware of ongoing recruitment efforts targeting touts, cultists, students, and individuals of questionable character from their communities to instigate violence during the protest.
“We acknowledge the widespread hunger, hardship, and economic uncertainty,” Gyang stated. “However, the suspicious manner in which this protest is being orchestrated raises significant concerns. The right to protest is fundamental, but we are unconvinced by the motives of the organizers.”
Gyang questioned the anonymity and unclear motives of the protest organizers. “Why have the sponsors of this protest remained hidden and failed to clearly articulate their motives? These are pressing questions that demand answers,” he said.
The youth leaders expressed their reluctance to support a protest that could lead to violence and property damage, citing past experiences such as the ENDSARS protests. “We have witnessed the devastating effects of such protests and continue to live with the consequences,” Gyang remarked.
The coalition criticized the recruitment of individuals with questionable character, viewing it as an attempt to incite trouble and create mayhem. They warned of plots to loot and destroy markets, businesses, and critical infrastructure in Jos to create tension and further hidden agendas.
“We call on our beloved Plateau youths to desist from joining a protest that undermines the relative peace we are currently enjoying,” Gyang urged. The youth leaders emphasized their readiness to engage constructively with the government to address the country’s economic challenges.
“We are determined to engage the government at all levels to find lasting solutions to our problems through constructive dialogue,” Gyang affirmed. “We choose not to participate in protests that may plunge our state into anarchy and chaos.”
The youth leaders also called on the Federal Government to urgently address the economic hardships facing the nation. “We resolve to pursue peace and progress for our state and the nation,” Gyang concluded.
