Kwara Students, Youths Back Out of Planned Nationwide Protest

Students, youths, and people living with disabilities (PWDs) in Kwara State have stated that they would not take part in protests scheduled to be held on August 1, 2024, across Nigeria.

Speaking during a joint press conference in Ilorin, the state capital, the Chairman of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Kwara chapter, Issa Abdulgafar Arikewuyo, said that in the past few days, the student bodies have engaged with their members across various campuses and youth groups, emphasizing the need for peace and understanding.

According to him, “We have also highlighted the efforts of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in intensifying efforts to revamp the country’s economic situation and improve the lives of students and youths.

“In complementing the efforts of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we commend Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for his tireless efforts to develop human capacity and prioritize the interests of students and youths. His policies, projects, and programs have consistently targeted the youth, preparing a better future for us.

“It is evident that we have a governor who has been greatly prioritizing our interests. He has proven himself to be a humble and proactive man who never gets tired of listening to the yearnings of the students and youths, as the improvement of our affairs has always remained a topmost part of his agenda.

“Due to this trust and belief in them, we urge you all to remain calm and hopeful in the cause of building a new nation that will be full of great opportunities for all of us to thrive. It is in our best interest to pull together to defend, protect, and build the country of our dreams. We must reimagine the system and strengthen it to take the nation forward. We must not allow ourselves to be manipulated or used as agents of destruction by people with inordinate political ambitions and sinister motives. We must, at all times, ensure that our hope in a New Nigeria remains very much alive.

“In light of the foregoing, after careful consideration and consultation with our members, we have decided to distance ourselves from the proposed protest of rage and anger. We will not organize or participate in any protest, as we believe it is not the solution.

“Our decision is further informed by the negative consequences of previous protests, such as the EndSARS protest in 2020, which resulted in looting, damage to public and private properties, economic setbacks, loss of lives, and loss of livelihoods. We cannot afford to repeat such mistakes.”

The joint press conference was attended by Nigerian students and youths, including the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Kwara State axis, National Association of Kwara State Students (NAKSS), National Headquarters, National Female Students Association of Nigeria, Kwara State chapter, SUG Presidents in Kwara State, National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS), National Association of Nigerian Colleges of Education Students (NANCES), Kwara State chapter, National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Nigerian Youth Parliament representatives from Kwara State, and people living with disabilities (PWDs).