ASABA/Nigeria: The Delta State Civil Society Community (DSCSC) has announced its decision not to participate in the proposed nationwide protests against hunger and economic hardship. At a press conference held in Asaba on Saturday, the DSCSC acknowledged the severe hunger and starvation plaguing the country but described the planned mass action as a politically motivated coup d’etat.
In a communique delivered by Comrade Okezi Odugala, the founding Coordinator of the DSCSC, the organization called on the Federal Government to implement policies to address the nation’s hunger crisis. The statement emphasized the importance of citizen power in democratic governance, asserting the right to protest as fundamental.
“We at the Delta State Civil Society Community (DSCSC) believe that civil protests are vital for the health and vitality of a democracy,” the communique read. “However, embarking on street protests at this time is a deliberate orchestration to end Nigeria, not a patriotic passion to end bad governance or hunger.”
The DSCSC expressed concerns about the potential for the planned August 1, 2024, protests to be manipulated by political actors with ulterior motives. The organization warned that such protests could lead to violence, property destruction, and further suffering for the already impoverished citizens.
“Using the sorry state of our national affairs to mobilize traumatized citizens to pursue and score bitter political points is not patriotism nor nationalism,” Odugala stated. “There exists a high likelihood of the planned mass actions being manipulated by anarchists and enemies of peace, leading to violence and setbacks in the progress we have achieved in Delta State.”
The DSCSC criticized the proposed protests as a potential platform for criminal activities, settling political or business scores, and reigniting gang and cult rivalries. The organization urged for more strategic alternatives to address governance issues and economic hardships.
“Civil disobedience to end bad governance is to bring all actors in the conversation to the table of engagement, seeking common grounds for the greater good, not some malicious and mischief-making enterprise masqueraded as people’s agenda,” the communique read.
The DSCSC also acknowledged the efforts of Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Francis Oborevwori, to advance the state through the MORE Agenda. The organization advocated for town hall engagements and other forms of dialogue over street protests as more effective means of addressing socio-economic and political challenges.
“We will not stand against the choices of any citizen to self-expression, but we kindly ask every citizen for their understanding and appeal against any mass protests and civil disobedience that can derail our collective march forward,” the DSCSC concluded.
