Protest: Lokpobiri Advises Niger Delta Youths To Protect Facilities.

 

As the nationwide protest Hunger kicks off Tomorrow,  Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobri, has pleaded with Niger Delta youths to protect facilities in the region stating that they should not allow anybody coming in the guise of protest to destroy anything.

Speaking today at Ijaw House during a meeting with Niger Delta Youths to persuade them from partaking in the protest, he urged them not allow disgruntled elements to come and spoil the facilities on ground all in the. name  of protest.

Senator Lokpobiri said he was in the state on the directive of President Bola Tinubu during Monday’s Federal Executive Council meeting for his appointees to join forces with state governors to ensure the planned nationwide protest does not get violent.

While appealing to youths from oil producing communities in the Niger Delta to jettison the protest, the Petroleum Minister thanked Governor Diri for engaging with various socio-cultural, youth and students groups to maintain peace in the state.

He acknowledged that some of the demands of the alleged sponsors of the protest were genuine but appealed for patience to allow the government address their concerns.

“As Ministers, Mr. President gave us very clear directive that we work with the governors at this particular time to ensure that there is peace and that there was no need for violent protest in our respective states.

“After our Federal Executive Council meeting on Monday, Mr. President directed us to liaise with our governors to ensure that we do not have a repeat of the 2020 #EndSARS. 

“Bayelsa people are  known for our peaceful nature. So, I want to thank you for the engagements you have done since the issue of this protest started. I am here to complement what you are doing.”

Lokpobri further stated that he is the leader of the APC in the state being the highest ranked member of the party as Minister, adding that the APC under his leadership was united unlike it was under Chief Timipre Sylva, who he said ran  a “one man show.”

In his remarks, Governor Diri thanked Lokpobri for giving the state proper representation in the Federal Executive Council.

On the August 1 protest, the governor acknowledged the rights of the people to protest in a democracy but stressed that there must be a good reason, which he argued can be resolved through dialogue.

He said his administration deployed dialogue from the beginning and because of his performance, the people re-elected for another term.

He called on Bayelsans to come to the roundtable to resolve any grievance against government’s policies.

Diri again advised the people not to join the protest given that it was being orchestrated by failed politicians in the state.

He directed that there will be no public holiday in the state as all government offices, markets and businesses will open for normal daily activities.

At the Ijaw house, which is the secretariat of the Ijaw Youths Council(IYC) and the Ijaw National Congressional (INC), Senator Lokpobiri urged the youths not to be deceived  by some faceless agents to protest against President Bola Tinubu.

He pointed out that the youths should not allow these faceless agents to set negative agenda for the region rather the region should be at the forefront of setting development agenda for other regions and the Federal Government.

Lokpobiri urged the youths to be patient with President Bola Tinubu because he is a listening President," one salient issue raised by those planning these protest is that there hardship. And this is acknowledged by President Tinubu.it is not however peculiar to Nigeria. Every countries of the world are battling with Global inflation."

"Don't let anyone let agenda for you because they did not consult us when they were drawing the demands for the protest. And from their list of demands,they did not include any one of our peculiar problems."