By Enyeribe Ejiogu
National President of Southern Youths Development Forum, Pastor Bassey James, has appealed to youths across Nigeria not to protest but to dialogue with the government for the improvement of the economy and national development programmes.
He said that the very real possibility of the protests being hijacked by violent miscreants to cause crisis, mayhem and lead to avoidable killing of peaceful protesters, is the primary reason for his decision to counsel the youths to shun the protest.
James also warned that critical national economic assets could be destroyed if protest holds, stressing that such an outcome would further compound the problems in the country.
James, who addressed journalists in Uyo, the Akwa State capital, maintained that the high tension across the nation requires that patriotic citizens come together to salvage.
His words: “In a time like this, patriotic citizens should come together to preach peace, unity and love in the overall interest of Nigeria. We are already planning a national youths dialogue in Abuja, Uyo, Kaduna and Lagos.
“It is better to talk, discuss and build a united Nigeria for the benefit of all and to ensure equal opportunities.
“If the protest is allowed to hold, there will be massive economic losses, suffering and violence which will be a major setback for the country, saying that most businesses are yet to recover from the 2020 EndSARS protests.
He added that even the government has not fully rebuilt the infrastructures destroyed during the unfortunate 202O protests, noting that the brewing protest would compound the issues.
James said President Tinubu inherited a weak economy, when he took over from former President Muhammadu Buhari on May 29, 2023. He said that the President has good intentions and should be given a little time for the policies to produce benefits the people can see and feel. He reiterated that Tinubu was among notable personalities who fought for the present democratic dispensation, adding: “The President is putting in place a sustainable economic blueprint which is a work in progress. The indicators are visible in terms of security, human resources development, infrastructures, agriculture, education and other areas.
“Some of the good things will take some time to materialise. It is not possible for a government that is only a year to do all the things Nigerians want but there is sincerity of purpose in this administration. “In the past we had raised the issue of the government going into a massive economic revolution in agriculture, housing across the states but we were ignored. Today, we are paying the price for the neglect of the issue. A country that depends on imported goods will suffer great consequences.
“I am urging our youths to give President Bola Tinubu some time to revitalise the economy.
Also speaking, the Acting National Publicity Secretary of SYDF, Engr Abiodun Adegbaju, and the State Coordinator, Chief Uche Dominic, appealed to politicians to ensure that people-oriented programmes are initiated and executed to help cushion the transient pain and suffering caused by the current policies of the government, designed to revive the economy, stressing that this is not the time to play politics, but to join hands to solve national problems.