Planned Nationwide Hunger Protest: Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba Communities in Rivers State Backs Out
…Rivers CP Meets Stakeholders
The Rivers state Commissioner of Police has met with various stakeholders ahead of the nationwide protest.
CP Olatunji Disu said “We just had meeting with stakeholders in the state to discuss the impending nationwide protest. We had a wonderful set of attendance, a lot of our traditional rulers honored the meeting, the Youths, all kind of organization you can think about attended the meeting.
“At the end of the day we want Rivers state to remain peaceful. We discussed and agreed that we don’t want any violence. Because looking back at the ENDSARs the violence we witnessed the looting, we have agreed that parents should go back home and talk to their children not to be part of this.
“The Police have been trained to be very professional and I assure you are going to see professional Police officers that particular period.
“We are dealing with human beings; we know that there are three stages that have to do with this kind of protest. The first stage is calling everybody, talking to everybody, explaining to them, trying to make everybody see the reason why we should have a peaceful day. That is why we called all stakeholders together. We have listened to them; a lot of advice came from them which we are going to implement.
“The other stage is if they want to go out for the protest what do will do, we are going to match out with them to ensure its peaceful.
“The next is if people started looting and come out with arms what do with do. All these things have been put into consideration; our officers have been trained on what to do”.
In his speech, Musa Saidu Chairman of Northern community in Rivers state said “we the northerners will not be part of it because properties of a lot of northerners were destroyed in the state during the last ENDSARS protest.
The NUJ Chairman in Rivers state, Stanley Job Stanley said “it’s a good indication that the police is calling stakeholders to see how they can handle the protest against poverty, hunger.
“Protest is the right of everybody that wishes to express their grievances. The problem is government sponsoring people to disrupt the protest. Let police be neutral and provide security”
Idris Alabi representative of Yoruba said “we the Yorubas will not partake in the protest because it will be hijacked by hoodlums”
The Chairman of Igbo Community in Rivers and Bayelsa states, Sam Wokolo also said the Igbos will not be part of the protest.
On his part Chairman of Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) in Rivers state Voke Emore said “We in PCRC in Rivers state prefer town hall meeting to protest”.
