Northern Youth Leaders Forum Withdraws Support from Planned Nationwide Protest
The Northern Youth Leaders Forum (NYLF), a coalition of 42 northern youth organizations, has announced that its members will not participate in a planned nationwide protest against hunger and poor governance scheduled to take place from August 1 to 10.
According to a statement by the NYLF’s National President, Elliot Afiyo, the organization has decided to withdraw its support from the protest after receiving intelligence reports and briefings, which revealed that the protest was designed to destabilize Nigeria, particularly the northern region and Abuja, through the destruction of government infrastructure.
The protest, tagged #EndBadGovernance, was planned to take place in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, with the objective of expressing citizens’ dissatisfaction with the current economic hardship in the country.
In a statement, Afiyo expressed concerns that the protest’s aims and objectives were not transparent, adding that the majority of the promoters were not aware of the plans due to a minority being involved in an international conspiracy against Nigeria with foreign organizations and governments.
The NYLF has warned the Federal Government and security agencies to ensure that no more than 10 people gather in any part of the country between August 1 and 10, except for religious gatherings, and to conduct proper screening and checks.
The organization has also expressed its intention to hold the government and security agencies responsible for any destruction or chaos that may arise from the protest, regarding them as potential collaborators in destroying the country’s future.
