In lieu to the planned August 1 protest, A coalition of 140 civil society groups and NGOs, with members spanning the 23 local government areas of Rivers State, has withdrawn from the planned nationwide protests.
The groups, under the Rivers Good Governance Coalition, announced on Thursday that the protests scheduled for August 1 to 10 would create more chaos in the state and other parts of the country.
In a statement signed by its president, Nwogu Moses, the coalition stated that protests should not be viewed as a solution to the country’s problems, as they could potentially cause more hardship.
While acknowledging the economic crisis affecting the nation, Moses urged Nigerian youths to engage in constructive dialogue with the government, emphasizing that dialogue would yield more positive results than the planned protest.
Part of the statement reads, “We believe that protests will only lead to more chaos and destruction, rather than solving the problems facing the country. Dialogue and engagement are better than ignoring the concerns of the people.
We urge Nigerians not to protest but to engage in constructive dialogue with the government and other stakeholders. This is the best way to address the issues facing the country. We are dedicated to working through lawful and democratic channels to bring about positive change.
Furthermore, we are concerned about the safety of our members and the general public and do not want to put anyone in harm’s way.”
