UPU Youth Wing Shuns Proposed National Protest Over Insecurity In Urhoboland
The Urhobo Progress Union, UPU, Youth Wing Worldwide has shunned the proposed national protest scheduled to commence on August 01, 2024, over the dimension of insecurity in Urhoboland.
This is contained in a communique signed by UPU Youth Wing President, Blessed Oghenero Ughere, issued after Urhobo Youth critical stakeholders meeting held on July 24, 2024, at Urhobo Cultural Center, Uvwimuge-Agbarho, in Ughelli North Local Government Area, Delta State.
Ughere said the Delta Central and other parts of Urhoboland are severely facing insecurity challenges, lamenting that embarking on protest would escalate the problems in the region.
The protest targeted to end bad governance triggered by economic hardship is proposed to take place across the 36 states of the Federation, including the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja.
Prices of goods and services have gone above the financial capacity of average Nigerians following the fuel subsidy removal and unfavorable economic policies by federal government under President Ahmed Bola Tinubu.
He said, “Given the current security challenges affecting Delta Central (Urhobo Nation) and Urhobos in other parts of Delta State, we firmly believe that engaging in protests now would be counterproductive.
“Therefore, we categorically state that we will not support any form of protest across Urhoboland in Delta State by any group or individuals.
“Engaging in such protests risks exacerbating the existing security challenges in the region, creating opportunities for criminal elements to exploit innocent citizens and instigate further chaos. We appeal to all concerned groups and individuals to refrain from organizing any protests within any Urhobo kingdom in Delta State. We also urge all Urhobo sons and daughters, as well as residents in Urhobo land, to boycott the proposed protest.”
On the security situation in Urhobolands, Ughere said, “the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) Youth Wing Worldwide is currently in discussions with the Delta State Government. We have made recommendations for the establishment of permanent military checkpoints in key areas to help mitigate the security challenges in the state.
“We hereby call on all citizens to be cautious, vigilant, and alert while accessing areas that require urgent security attention, especially Egbo, along the Agbarho-Ughelli Road, and the Ughelli-Patani Highway, among others.
“We urge leaders and other stakeholders in the region to join hands in assisting our security agencies to maintain law and order, which are imperative for prosperity, peace, and progress.”