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The Coalition of Pro – Democracy Groups for a Better Nigeria, otherwise known as Coalition of June 12 Activists, has directed affiliate and non-affiliate groups and Nigerians, both home and abroad, not to take part in any planned national protest against the ongoing economic hardship in the country.
Some groups have been calling on Nigerians at home and in the diaspora to embark on protests over the current economic hardship in the country.
But the coalition, in a statement issued on Tuesday by its National Coordinator, Comrade Awa Bamiji, said it would not be a part of protests that can truncate the nation’s democracy.
“We must commend the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, who asked groups and Nigerians from the South East zone not to partake in any planned protest.
“While addressing newsmen in Enugu on Monday, he said he had received entreaties requesting him to call Nigerians from the South East zone to join the demonstrations across the country. We, as coalition of hundreds of youths’ and students’ organisations, in and outside Nigeria, had equally been approached to make the ongoing “ebi n pawa” protest over economic crisis louder with our army of youths and students because records are there for us.
“Everybody can testify to the power of youths and students in every nationwide protest in which June 12, 1993, still stands out till today, because ‘we always stand on the path of truth, which must be said at all times, even if it means you are standing alone’ Gani Fawehinmi.
“As an umbrella body, we are directing that no pro-democracy group or community in Nigeria or in the diaspora should join any protest against this government.
“We are still studying the situation of things and we have asked those who made entreaties to us to tell us what their position was before the current administration. They were all in the opposition parties.
“We have asked what they did to demonstrate their patriotism after the general elections because election is not do or die affair. As democrats, we must always embrace spirit of sportsmanship at every election cycle,” the statement read.
Awa, who described the current economic hardship in the country as unfortunate, said the group has set up a strategic team consisting of experts to come with the solutions to the economic crisis and insecurity.
“We live to tackle different challenges as they come till we die and this current situation wouldn’t be an exception by God’s grace. We assure that we have already convened a meeting of top Nigerian economists and war experts, home and abroad, to strategise on how to overcome the current economic hardship and security challenges.
“These economists and war experts would offer advice to President Bola Tinubu on the economy and security. Civil Society Organisations, being the age long constituency of Mr President, will continue to rally around the president, just as we did during our two- month Tinubu Mandate Protection World Press Confrences and Vigil at Unity Fountain Square, Abuja, between Monday, March 27, 2023 and Monday May 29, 2023 to ensure that he completes his tenure successfully.
“Just like Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo, Civil Society Organisations Worldwide are opposed to military rule and prefer a democratic government where we can express our views.
“Youths all over the world are very restive and sensitive to issues affecting their future. In Nigeria, youths and students from the North and West at various times have expressed their dissatisfaction with events in the country and we are appealing to them that it is high time they sheath their swords in the interest of peace and tranquility because military rule or civil war are terrible twins that should not be imagined by any right thinking individual based on our our past experiences as a nation.
“It is clear to us that the leadership of opposition is moving around instigating individuals and groups so as to fish in the troubled waters through military take over or civil war that could claim our innocent lives, but to their own credit as ipposition.
“Why do we continue to endanger our lives for the comfort of self-seeking individuals in our midst as it happened during the #EndSARS nationwide protests.
“The situation that had cost us billions in financial losses and innocent lives were equally lost across the states of the federation.
“There have been protests in some parts of the country over the current economic crisis such as Kano, Niger, Osun and Oyo States.
“On Monday, some youths in Ibadan, the Oyo State Capital, took to the streets to protest against the high cost of living in the country. The protesters called on President Bola Tinubu to fix the economic crisis.
“We are now geniunely calling on those youths to come forward with their group’s or individual ideas on how to jointly fix this country together with Mr President in the areas of security and economy because he inherited rotten system of administration from his predecessor, who also met empty treasury in 2015, when he took over from former President Goodluck Jonathan of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The main reason for his incessant borrowing to survive his eight-year administration and we must put our feet on ground to jointly break this jinx during this current administration.
“This is the only solution because we are all feeling the heat together irrespective of our tribes, religion or political parties we belong to. This is our country, whether we like it or not, no place like home. Even those who travelled abroad out of frustration are confirming this to us on daily basis based on the economic hardship over there because many of them are our committed members.
“Our strategic team has commenced work and the team has a deadline of Tuesday, June 11, 2024 to make their reports on how to ameliorate economic hardhsip and tackle security challenges public,” he added.