IPDI Calls On Niger Delta Ex-Agitators, CSOs To Abstain From Planned Nationwide Protest -

By Ejiro Ayewu

Niger Delta ex-agitators, youths, and civil society organizations (CSOs) have been urged to abstain from the upcoming nationwide protest by the Ijaw Peoples Development Initiative (IPDI). The group expressed fears that common adversaries might exploit the demonstration as a cover to incite new hostilities against the region’s blackmail leaders.

The action was discovered as a result of a campaign of defamation launched by common adversaries interested in pipeline surveillance positions, alleging that the area is severely plagued by high rates of pipeline vandalism and oil theft.

“Some common enemies want to use the protest as a medium to fulfil their evil plans to put the region in conflict and more hardship,” the statement signed by the organization’s national president, Comrade Ozobo Austin, and secretary, Comrade Peter Luke, emphasized. We have to reject it and not let strangers or persons with questionable motives convert our area into a combat zone, according to IPDI.

The group acknowledged that the nation is severely suffering from severe starvation, hunger, and hardship, but they emphasized that the true purpose of the nationwide protest has been misdirected by common enemies in the Niger Delta, who are funding certain groups to use the platform to incite new hostilities in the region.

IPDI voiced concern that outside groups would take advantage of the protest and incite violence and instability in the area. They emphasized the need for moderation and prudence, calling on civil rights organizations, youth, former agitators, and stakeholders to prioritize communication and peace.

The organization’s statement is released concurrently with several groups getting ready for the August 1–10 countrywide demonstration. The request from IPDI aims to safeguard the interests of the Niger Delta community and avert possible turmoil.

With its most recent step, IPDI intends to steer clear of any measures that could harm the area and its people. They support the use of different avenues of communication, such productive discourse, to resolve disputes and advance Niger Delta development.