Minister urges Niger Delta indigenes to shun planned protest, cites economic implications

The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Abubakar Momoh, has called on residents of the oil rich region to refrain from joining the planned nationwide protest.
In an interview with journalists in Port Harcourt, Momoh argued that the protest does not serve the region’s best interests and appears to be orchestrated by unknown individuals aiming to disrupt governance.
He warned that such actions could have detrimental effects on the region’s economy.
Momoh said, “I think I almost miss it, because wherever I find myself, I have always sent that message. And yesterday, even in the traditional rulers’ house and in the public field, I have made it clear that August 1st is suspected to be a date where faceless individuals want to protest.
“The entire Niger Delta should not have anything to do with it, because the people who are planning it, they are faceless.
“They are not residents in Nigeria. Most of them are outside the country.
“They want to destroy your country while they are there living in comfort zones. So we should not allow the youth of our area to have anything to do with the protests. Because the protests, you know how it starts, but you don’t know how it ends.”
Making reference to the #EndSARS protest, Momoh said, “You saw the #EndSARS in Lagos. You can see the massive destruction that was done to Lagos. If the economy of Lagos is not a very strong one, in fact, it will be very difficult for them to recover.
“And imagine, allowing such a protest to happen in places like this, and even in Port Harcourt and the Niger Delta region, who is going to lose?
“We are the ones who are going to lose. We are not as strong as Lagos. So I think, let me use this opportunity to appeal to the entire masses, particularly the traditional rulers, the youth, and the women, not to allow themselves to be deceived by anybody.
“It goes beyond Mr. President. It’s not Mr. President Tinibu that we are asking. What is being planned now is how to disrupt Nigeria, and to let you know that there is no country today, an adverse nation, that would want Nigeria to make progress.
“You recall sometimes back in 2011 or so, they would tell you that by 2015 Nigeria was going to collapse, that there would be nothing like Nigeria.
“They did every manipulation to see that Nigeria did not survive. Has Nigeria not survived? So they are surprised that a lot of progress has been made in this country.
“And we should not give them opportunity. And as the fourth asset of the ring, it is your own duty and your responsibility, in your own analysis, to continue to tell the whole world that this type of protest is not necessary, it’s irrelevant, and it will not do anybody good.
“Therefore, since I’m in Ogoni land, I want to appeal to the youth of Ogoni. They should take time to see what is being done in their respective domains.”
Some Nigerians are mobilizing for a 10-day nationwide protest from August 1 to August 10, 2024, to address concerns about widespread hunger and inflation in the country.
Though President Bola Tinubu has acknowledged that protests are a democratic right, he emphasized that his administration will not tolerate demonstrations that result in destruction of property or loss of life.
Minister urges Niger Delta indigenes to shun planned protest, cites economic implications