With less than 24 hours to the August 1st hunger protest, one of the prominent youth organizations in Enugu State, Young Fellows Initiative (YFI), has appealed to the youths of the state to shun the protest.
The National Coordinator of the Young Fellows Initiative, Ozonwachukwu Johnkings, while acknowledging the valid reasons for the protest, stressed that “the right thing, when done at the wrong time, can sometimes lead to chaos rather than change.”
Ozonwachukwu, in a statement made available to newsmen in Enugu on Wednesday, called on the youths of Enugu to consider the bigger picture and understand the need to refrain from participating in a protest that might derail the positive efforts of Governor Peter Mbah.
Highlighting some of the key achievements of Mbah’s administration, he noted that the protest could negatively impact the pace of ongoing work, emphasizing the need for reconsideration.
“We believe in the power of action, but we also recognize the necessity of timing. We face a critical juncture where the urgency of our initiatives must align with strategies that ensure effective and meaningful impact.
“We call for a thoughtful discourse on how we champion our causes. We urge our fellow youths to consider not just the importance of the issues at hand, but also the context in which we advocate for them.
“At the moment, our governor has turned our state into a construction site with numerous projects underway simultaneously. Some of these projects, such as the Enugu International Conference Center and Hotel Presidential, will create thousands of direct and indirect jobs, and we must not do anything that hinders this progress.
“To tackle the security challenges in the state, His Excellency is installing high-definition CCTV cameras and is also addressing the long-standing water crisis, with results already beginning to show.”
He cautioned against “hasty decisions that can undermine our progress. We seek collaboration, understanding, and deliberate action. Our generation is ready to lead, but we must do so with wisdom and awareness, ensuring that our actions resonate and reach those who need to hear them.”
While acknowledging the need for youths to press their demands, he further suggested that “we must be wise. For when we do the right thing at the right time, that is when true change occurs!”
