#EndSARS: Ngwa Patriots Forum States Her Position On Protest

Our Forum has followed the trajectory of the hitherto peaceful protest of Nigerian youths against Police brutality and other genuine concerns as captured in their 5-points demand to the Federal Govt of Nigeria.

As a responsible socio- cultural with membership across the globe, we wish to state as follows:

1. We sincerely share in the agonies and frustration of our youths,and indeed the larger Nigeria society, regarding the aforementioned issues and totally commend the peaceful manner the youths went about ventilating their grievances in the past two weeks.

2. We also observe that the response approach of the Federal Govt to this clarion call left much to be desired in terms of speed and content which may have created the lacuna that has been cashed upon by irate misguided few persons to unleash mayhem in various parts of the country in the past few days.

3. We also condemn the alleged apparent use of excessive force and subterfuge in addressing the very recent fracas which resulted to the death of armless youths, the consequences of which is the vengeful destruction of properties in some cities in Nigeria.

4. While commending the Governor of Abia State, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, for his proactive actions in preventing violent demonstrations in the past two weeks, we condemn in strong terms the apparent mischief and vagrancy exhibited by a section of youths in Abia State in the past two days who went into overdrive to destroy public and private properties in Aba and it's environs. This is despicable and unnecessary affront on the sensibilities of well -meaning residents of Abia State who had sincerely identified with the genuine #ENDSARS protest.

5. We also condemn the attempt to malign or threaten the person or office of the Governor of Abia State despite his avowed commitment to make Abia better than he met.

This,to us, is the height of impudence and blinded temerity which we cannot accept on the excuse of ignorance or youthful exuberance. At a time when the world is recommending decorum and civility in dealing with genuine demonstrations,it will amount to shooting ourselves at the leg when we aim to destroy our infrastructures and the personalities God has given us as a State.

6 It's against the foregoing that we enjoin the decent protesting youths to give peace a chance and allow Govt to take further steps to address their issues. Gov Okezie Ikpeazu has started well by constituting a Judicial Panel to resolve complaints of Police brutality. That's the much he can do in that regard as he, constitutionally, does not have the powers to deploy any federal security agency.

7. Those other unscrupulous persons who have hijacked this genuine process based on political,ethnic or idealogical inducements should retrace their steps or face resentment by all well meaning citizens.

8. We are proud to be associated with the giant strides of Dr Okezie Ikpeazu in ensuring peace and security in the State.

May God console the bereaved families and save our land from further bloodshed and wanton destruction.

Signed:

Chief Uzoma Ihuka,KSJI ( President)

Deacon Ogechi Chile ( Director of Publicity)