Northern Youth Alliance pulls out of nationwide protest

By Moses Kolo

The leadership of the Northern Youth Alliance for Good Governance (NYAG) has said members of the group will no longer participate in the planned August 1 nationwide protest.

The group, in a press statement signed by Mr Abdullahi Usman, its National Coordinator and made available to newsmen in Kaduna on Tuesday said instead of calling out its members for protests on the streets, it will toe the path of dialogue.

Usman, who said said NYAG was hitherto involved in mobilising people to partake in the said protest to call on the attention of the government concerning the untold hardship being faced by the common Nigerians.

He stated that the group has decided to embrace a peaceful approach in the best interest of peace and the even socioeconomic development of Nigeria.

Usman said, “We want to inform the public that as a result of wide consultations between our members, we have decided to withdraw from any plans to go ahead with the protest.

”This is to safeguard our integrity and Nigeria’s national peace and security, which we believe are paramount.

“NYAG is therefore calling on all Nigerians to embrace dialogue as news has reached us that there are political elements who are planning to hijack our planned protest and use it for their selfish political agenda.

“They wish to turn the planned peaceful protest into a riot that may aggravate the situation in Nigeria, hence worsen the condition.

The group said that there were desperate people who may justify looting and destruction of public property and businesses.

Usman added, “The NYAF shall not be part of any such egocentric and destructive agenda.

“We, therefore, call on our fellow Nigerians to embrace dialogue, and encourage the government to engage the stakeholders for a robust discussion to end the ongoing hardships faced by Nigerians.”

He, however, urged that measures should be taken to improve the current situation of Nigerians, adding, “we believe that President Bola Tinubu is committed to the ongoing reforms and should be supported by all well-meaning Nigerians.

“In the North, millions of our youth will return to agriculture once the security situation is brought under control.

“NYAG remains committed to the welfare and well-being of the Nigerian people and the peace and security of Nigeria at large as such, we urge against any violent protests as we support dialogue.”

(NAN)