The planned “Mother Of All Protest Season 2” by the Ogoni Youth Federation (OYF) scheduled for Tuesday, March 1, 2022 has been suspended, according to a statement circulated to journalists in Port Harcourt on Friday.
The protest which was hinged on the deplorable state of the Ogoni axis of the East-West Road, the economic epicenter of the Nigerian/West African oil and gas industry, was scheduled to hold jointly with the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), Eastern Zone, Rivers State Ethnic Youth Leaders Coalition and other groups for a period of one month.
However, in the statement which was jointly signed by President-General of OYF, Comrade Legborsi Yamaabana, Chairman, IYC, Eastern Zone, Comrade Ibim Ibiwari, JP, Secretary-General, Rivers State Ethnic Youth Leaders Coalition, TamunobeleTamunoimama and Leader, Ogoni Ex-militants, Prince Mahmoud Kirirka, the group announced the suspension of the protest following the intervention of the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, CP, Eboka Friday.
“The decision to suspend the protest was reached today (Friday 25-02-22) at a meeting held at the Rivers State police headquarters, Moscow Road, at the instance of the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, together with officials of the Federal Ministry of Niger Affairs, the contractor, Reynolds Construction Company, the Chairman of Eleme Local Government Council, and executives of Ogoni Youth Federation; ljawYouth Council (IYC), Eastern Zone; Rivers State Ethnic Youth Leaders Coalition; Ogoni Ex-Militants Forum and other participating groups.
“The protest is being put on suspends due to the undertaking signed by the Rivers State coordinator of the Federal Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs to commence construction of the road within a period of one month commencing from march 1, 2022. attached herewith is a copy of the undertaking.
“Therefore, Ogoni Youths/Niger Delta youths and other lovers of sustainable development who were in solidarity with this move are enjoined by this message to stay calm and return to base for a period of one month, as we give them a benefit of doubt and explore other strategies for this same advocacy in the collective interest of all stakeholders and the overall development of our people”, the statement read.
