By Cmr Wilbet Ijeoma
The State Director of National Orientation Agency, Delta State Directorate, Comrade Mrs. Tracy Omamode Ikolomi has dissuaded Deltans from the planned nationwide protest, while persuading the masses to give dialogue a chance for peace, security, development and safety of our nation as the Holy Scripture rightly puts it that; “Where there is no counsel, the people fall; but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.” Proverbs 11:14.
This is against the backdrop of the planned nationwide protest over the recent economic hardship faced by Nigerians slated for 1st to 10th August 2024. Speaking to the Press in the State Directorate’s Office at Federal Secretariat Complex, Asaba, the State Director appealed to the conscience of Deltans in particular and Nigerians in general especially youths who have higher manipulative tendencies in the planned protest, adding that protest in recent times had not recorded laudable results in Nigeria but chaos, anarchy and destruction; no thanks to hoodlums and ill-meaning Nigerians who take undue advantage of the liberty in protest.
Speaking further, Ikolomi who doubles as the Secretary of Nigeria Women of Journalists (NAWOJ) Delta State Chapter told Journalists to rise to the occasion and inform Nigerians accurately of the vulnerability of protests and better alternatives at their disposal to ventilate their concerns.
“It is granted that protest is the constitutional right of every citizen; it is good but has to be conducted within the confines of the law in a manner free from lawlessness. But considering the extent of moral decadence and lawlessness especially amongst some Nigerian youths, protest seems to be unfashionable in the Nigerian clime because it has a higher propensity to turn volatile as witnessed in the infamous #ENDSARS Protest in 2021 which recorded casualties and destruction of public infrastructures”; Ikolomi expressed, as she opted that Nigeria cannot afford to suffer another loss in a similar magnitude to that of #ENDSARS.
The NOA Delta State Director affirmed that the National Orientation Agency has a mandate to advocate good governance at all levels, sensitize and conscientize Deltans and Nigerians at large to give dialogue and peace a chance, adding that the present government both at federal and state level is barely one year in office and need more time to get Nigeria in the right trajectory. Ikolomi noted that the Delta State government policies anchored on the M.O.R.E. Agenda of the Governor H.E. Rt. Hon (Elder) Sheriff Oborevwori are laudable and gradually coming to fruition, while the federal government has been deliberate in its policies in quick response to the yearning of Nigerians, adding that the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), the New Minimum Wage regime, Local Government Financial Autonomy, Nigeria Youth Investment Fund (NYIF) are just but a few policies the federal government has rolled out in quick and desperate response to the yearnings of Nigerians.
“There is justification to be patient and give both the state and federal government a little more time”, the Delta NOA helmsman noted, as she harps on constructive dialogue and strategic engagement of critical stakeholders with the government at both state and federal level, as the only veritable means to seeking lasting solution to the collective challenges of Nigerians.
