By Godwin Ajom
The Government of Cross River State, has warned youths in the State against joining the proposed planned nationwide protest against hardship and bad governance.
Nigerians are expressing displeasure against the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which they noted has brought untold hardship, inflation, devaluation of the Naira, cost of living, and among other sundry issues.
The government gave the warning in a statement signed by the State Commissioner for information Erasmus Ekpang on Monday, saying the government has uncovered plans by some aggrieved youths in the State to join forces with their colleagues in other States of the federation to protest massively from August 1, 2024 over the current situation.
The state government referenced the October 2020 #EndSARS protest and Governor Bassey Otu’s multiple palliatives and economic empowerment programs and acknowledged the current economic hardship as reasons why youths in the State need to jettison the proposed planned nationwide protest.
The government acknowledged the “Hardship which has brought huge sufferings to many families due to the high level of inflation and sky-rocketing prices of goods and services but with less disposable income. We sincerely apologize to all residents of our dear State even as the government appreciates the enormity of the challenges.”
Ekpang “advised all residents of the State to drop any idea to join the planned protest as protesting has never been the best solution to resolving any problem including the current hardship in the land.”
He noted that Governor Otu since assumption of office in 2023, has taken proactive steps to introduce palliative schemes intended to provide succor to different segments of the society towards fostering economic growth and improving the quality of life of Cross Riverians.
The statement added: “Cash Transfers of upto N1,328,280,000.00 have been disbursed to 17,138 beneficiaries, NG-CARES has disbursed grants of up to N100,000.00 to N400,000.00 to 2,136 enterprises in the State; farm implements for different value chains of rice, cassava, poultry, piggery, aquaculture, etc have been distributed to over 73,634 beneficiaries and Grant Program Cash Transfer Unit witnessed over 4,000 poor and vulnerable individuals getting between N50,000.00 to N200,000.00 each.
“In youths development, 20,898 poor and vulnerable youths were enrolled and paid 6 months’ stipends amounting to N1,253,880,000.00 while over 100 canoes and fishing boats were built and distributed to youths of riverine communities including grants worth over 2 Billion Naira.
“Recall the huge destruction recorded in Cross River State during the October 2020 #ENDSARS mass protest allegedly perpetrated by non-indigenes, including burning and breaking down of public infrastructure in federal and state establishments such as Cross River State Newspaper Corporation, Ministry of Information, State Warehouses, CICC, WAEC, NIMC.”
Others are; “General Hospital, Calabar, Lawrence Henshaw Memorial Hospital, Tinapa Resort, Cross River Basin Development Authority, Ministry of Works buildings, some buildings in the University of Calabar, amongst many other private businesses and residential houses of prominent politicians. In fact, as you all are aware the State is yet to recover fully from the aftermaths of these #ENDSARS destructions and will not fold its arms and allow any misguided group or individuals to destroy our State,” the government warned.
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