By Valentine Amanze, Online Editor
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Vice-Presidential candidate in the 2019 general elections, Mr. Peter Obi, has appealed to the Nigerian youths to embrace peace and stop hoodlums from hijacking their well thought-out protest for a better Nigeria.
Obi, who made the appeal on Monday, commended the Nigerian youths for their orderliness throughout the #EndSARS protest.
Recalling his tweets on the protest, Obi said that it was pertinent to continue to remind Nigerian youths that they have done very well commencing the process of extricating their future from those who do not care about them.
“Your message is taken seriously by Nigerians and the international community, when disseminated through peaceful means or in an environment where peace reigns, which is what the bad eggs, who have infiltrated the protest are not happy with,” he said.
The former governor also specifically pleaded with the youths of Anambra State to hearken to the words of Governor Willie Obiano and stop the protest now so that “our dear state does not become notorious for looting, arson, rape, rapine and other criminal activities.”
“As the Light of the Nation, we shall strive to continue to show the light,” Obi declared.
Obi had warned via his twitter handle on Thursday, October 22, 2020 that the protest would be hijacked by the enemies of the people.
His tweet: “Our purposeful and peaceful #EndSARS and enthrone good governance protest appears to have been hijacked by the enemies within. They are now using it to kill or harm innocent people, and to destroy public assets and property of hard-working Nigerians.
“For every life lost, we all lost; for everyone harmed, we are all harmed; for every public or private asset destroyed, our collective assets are destroyed. This is not in our character and must not be allowed to continue. Ours is to build, not to destroy.”
On the threat by reckless fringe that the Igbo should leave the South-West, Obi thanked South-West leaders for rising to the occasion by condemning it, describing it as a “barbaric and atavistic throw-back to old and superseded ways.”
He said that such threats should be condemned by all as part of the grand plan to trivialise the spontaneous statement by the youth that ‘Enough is enough’!
He also thanked leaders from other zones, who are working round the clock to check the menace of enemies, who have hijacked the peaceful #EndSARS protest.
Similarly, Obi pleaded with Igbo youths to continue to be of good behaviour.
To those in the East, he appealed to them to continue to maintain harmonious co-existence with those from other parts of the country residing among them.
Obi also praised the leadership of Ohanaeze under its President-General, Chief Nnia Nwodo, for his strong presence of mind.
His words: “I commend Chief Nwodo for staying alert to the situation, issuing statements and appearing on electronic media to clarify the position of the Igbo. This is in sync with the position of all well-meaning organisations worldwide.”
Obi, who sympathized with the families of those that lost their lives, advised the youth to closely monitor the implementation of their demands, which government has already accepted.
He urged those that have suffered brutalities and other indignities at the hands of the now defunct SARS to report to the various panels set up for that purpose.
