coalition of Northeast youths kicks off protests amid economic hardships
By Tada Juthan
The Coalition of Northeast Youths (CNY) has kicked against the national protests that commenced today over bad governance and economic hardships in the country.
The coalition, comprising young leaders and influential individuals, has opted for a national dialogue with the federal and state governments.
Announcing the shelving of protests on Wednesday, at a press conference in Maiduguri, the CNY Chairman, Aliyu Mohammed, disclosed: “Our primary objective is to promote peace and stability in our nation. Instead of embarking on a 10-day protest,
He said that President Bola Tinubu and his vice, Senator Kashim Shettima, are addressing the various challenges facing the nation, particularly the over-a-year rising costs of living in the six geopolitical zones.
Besides overcoming the economic challenges of the federal government, the 36 governors, including Babagana Zulum, are committed to restoring peace with the distribution of palliatives for over five years.
He noted that instead of embarking on a national protest slated for August 1, 2024, the youths should emphasise the significance of constructive engagement with the federal and state governments.
“We should advocate for dialogue and collaboration with constituted authorities instead of protests in pursuit of our collective rights,” he said.
Continued: “Our proposed initiatives involve collaborating with the governmental and private sectors to implement youth training programmes in agriculture and digital skills.”
He reiterated that this will promote self-reliance and economic stability among the youths, which comprise over 60 percent of the nation’s population.
The youths also intend to leverage their influential social media platforms, reaching over 2 million followers, to advocate for peace and unity.
According to him, the Federal Government should prioritise the development of critical infrastructure, including the Mambila hydroelectric dam project and the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri rail way line.
They also urged the federal government to increase resources to address the security challenges in the Northeast and other parts of the country.
