Niger Delta militants back 2face Idibia’s planned protest

Some former militants, under the auspices of Urhobo Ex-Militant Leaders Forum, have declared their support for hip-hop singer, 2face Idibia, who is planning a nationwide protest on February 6, 2017 in Lagos.

In a statement released by the National chairman, Phase 2 ex-militants, Mr H. M. Ebirie, he said “we the Niger Delta ex-agitators are fully in support of the 2face Idibia-led nationwide mass protest against economic hardship and severe hunger in the country.

“The federal government seems to have no immediate measures to cushion plights of the suffering masses and we are ready for the protest.”

“The Federal Government must be awaken to rise up to its responsibilities of creating the conducive environment for economic growth and alleviation of severe hunger in the land through people-oriented policies and programmes,” they said.

Similarly, Youths for Human Rights Protection and Transparency Initiative (YARPTI), has said that it will take part in the demonstration.

In a statement by its Vice President, Dr Joy Tobin, the group said some of its members will march in Lagos, while others will march in Port Harcourt.

It said: “The right to join with fellow citizens in protest or peaceful assembly is critical to a functioning democracy.

“Within the space of a little more than a year, Nigeria’s story has turned full circle from an economy lauded as the largest on the continent with potentials to grow further to one enmeshed in its worst economic crisis in 25 years.

“Now, the economy has officially died and the government is cash-strapped with 27 states owing workers and pensioners backlog of wages.

“This is in addition to about two million workers and pensioners starving because their wages and benefits are not being paid on time while prices of goods in the market have gone to high heavens. All these are due to bad government policies.

“We can’t keep quiet anymore.”