A’Ibom ex-agitators reject hunger protest, vow to protect public assets

Ex-militants under the aegis of the Akwa Ibom Ex-Agitators Forum have warned the youths in Akwa Ibom State against embarking on what they called a faceless protest in the state.

They vowed to mobilise anti-protesters in strategic places to protect public infrastructure and property from being vandalised and looted during the protest.

Chairman of the Forum, Alban Paulinus, stated this while addressing journalists on Wednesday evening in Uyo, the state capital. He described the protest as counterproductive and a threat to the existing peace in the state.

He said, “We are here to tell the world 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, we in Akwa Ibom should protest. Why we will not want to protest is because our brother, the number three citizen, the Senate President, is there and we say not at this time.

“We will go about our normal business and implore every Akwa Ibom resident not to be cowed into any faceless protest. Go about your normal business.

“At this critical time, leading a protest could be counterproductive and jeopardise public peace. Instead, we call on the government to address the pressing issues of hunger and to improve the living conditions of our citizens.”

He added that they believe in maintaining peace and stability in the state. While acknowledging the economic challenges faced by Nigerians, he stressed the need for dialogue and collaboration with the government to find lasting solutions.

He said, “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.”

Paulinus pleaded with the people to give President Bola Tinubu a chance. According to him, one year is not enough to build a nation. He called for patience and said he would
continue monitoring events as they unfold.

Also speaking, the Secretary of the group, Johnson
Solomon, said, “When we were shouting about marginalisation, no one listened to us, and now you want us to collaborate to carry out protests? We say no. We in the Niger Delta are coming out en masse to be anti-protesters to the faceless group.”

Chairman of Obollo Youths, Emmanuel Essang, on his part, said the days of taking to the streets are over as demands are achieved through dialogue.

“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,” he said.