A coalition of 140 civil society groups and non-governmental organisations, with members across the 23 local government areas of Rivers State, has pulled out from the planned nationwide protests.
The groups under the aegis of the Rivers Good Governance Coalition said on Thursday that the protest scheduled for August 1 to 10 would cause more chaos in the state and other parts of the nation.
In a statement signed by its president, Nwogu Moses, the coalition declared that protest should not be seen as a solution to the country’s challenges, stating that it would potentially lead to more hardship.
While admitting the economic crisis bedevilling the nation, Moses urged Nigerian youths to engage in constructive dialogue with the government, stressing that dialogue would have more positive impacts than the planned protest.
Part of the statement reads, “We believe that protest will only lead to more chaos and destruction, rather than solving the problems facing the country.
“We believe that dialogue and engagement are better than ignoring the concerns of the people.
“We also urge Nigerians not to protest, but rather to engage in constructive dialogue with the government and other stakeholders. We believe that this is the best way to address the issues facing the country.
“We are dedicated to working through lawful and democratic channels to bring about positive change.
“Furthermore, we are concerned about the safety of our members and the general public, and we do not want to put anyone in harm’s way”.
Rivers: Nationwide protest will cause more hardship – CSO coalition pulls out
