#EndBadGovernanceProtest: Eno’s aide advise youths against succumbing to negative influence

Tony Okoh, Uyo

Worried by the increasing emergence of groups on social media urging youths of Akwa Ibom state to join the fray of the ongoing end bad governance protest in the country, the Special Assistant, New Media to Governor Umo Eno, Revd. Richard Peters has appealed to Akwa ibom youths to shun such negative enticement in the interest of the continuous peace and development of the state.

Recall that governor Umo Eno has been proactive in nipping the protests by engaging the youths and other stakeholders including the NLC in town hall meetings in which they resolved to back out of the protests.

The governor in appreciation of the youths obedience has promised to select additional 5000 youths across the state for a monthly welfare package to help them cushion the harsh economic situation in the country.

However, speaking to journalists on Monday in Uyo Akwa ibom state, the Special Assistant on New Media to the governor Revd. Peters said the increasing pressure for the youths to troop out to the street and join the ongoing protest may reverse the progress made so far in the areas of peace, development and progress of the state by the governor .

He noted that most of those using social media to ginger youths to action are people without the interest of the people at heart or investment in the state and would also remain in their comfort zone to watch after stoking fire in the state.

He cited examples of states where the ongoing protest have claimed several innocent lives through violence and property worth billions of naira destroyed because of the infiltration of the protests by hoodlums who engaged in looting spree in the guise of protests.

He averred, ” We all acknowledged the increasing harsh economic situation in the country due to removal of subsidy on fuel among others but the current situation must not warrant the call for youths to take to the streets here and the ceaseless use of foul language against the person and office of the governor of the state”

“The immediate cause of the problems which is the removal of subsidy on fuel among others are well beyond his purview as governor but being a good leader, he has effectively deployed his ARISE AGENDA blueprint to lift the fortunes of the poor and vulnerable across the state through both empowerment and provision of comfortable shelter, several youths have been trained and empowered with starter packs while several contracts have been awarded with multiplier effect on the people”.

” We know that the governor encourages objective criticism but we must not leverage on it to dish unwarranted insults as currently being done in the social Media owing to his decision to save the state the agony of hijacked protests by miscreants which may lead to destruction of our public assets or looting of people’s hard earned investments in the private sector. Most stories coming from states engaging in the protests remain unpalatable and our dear state cannot join the fray”.

He further highlighted, ” it is also a known fact that the governor is doing everything possible to cushion the effects of the current economic situation in the country via massive investment in Agriculture and job creation including Continous training and empowerment of youths. We have a very compassionate governor and must support him to succeed in the overall interest of the state “.

Revd. Peters maintained that dialogue remains the most veritable tool to navigate the current situation in the country stressing that whatever is destroyed in the moments of anger brings more retrogression amid the current situation.

He advised the people inciting youths and raining abuses on the governor to desist from doing so in the overall interest of the state stressing that the issues that prompted the situation in the country are well beyond the scope of the office of the governor of the state constitutionally.