Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has called on traditional rulers, religious leaders, and community heads to counsel their communities on the importance of maintaining peace as youths across Nigeria gear up for the #EndBadGovernance protest on August 1, 2024.
During a statewide broadcast on Tuesday, Governor Otti voiced his concerns that the planned national protest could spiral into violence, potentially endangering vulnerable groups. He emphasized that while protesting against unfavorable conditions is a constitutional right, the movement’s original intent could be compromised if miscreants exploit the situation to incite disorder.
“The federal government’s recent economic policies, including the fuel subsidy removal, may not have yielded the expected outcomes yet,” Governor Otti remarked. “However, I urge our youths to channel their grievances through peaceful means instead of resorting to violence.”
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Governor Otti urged Abia youths to show restraint and communicate their demands through structured channels. He assured that his administration is committed to safeguarding the populace and fostering a conducive environment for dialogue.
“What Abians need now is peace and continued development, not chaos,” he stated. “Our administration has significantly invested in infrastructure projects in Aba and Umuahia. It is crucial to protect these developments from those who might hijack the protests to cause destruction.”
Highlighting recent accomplishments, Governor Otti noted that Abia State civil servants have received the April tranche of the Wage Award as promised. He appealed to the people of Abia to reject violence and support ongoing developmental efforts.
