PRESS STATEMENT.
THE NIGERIAN YOUTHS:MATTERS ARISING!!!
Ladies and gentlemen of the press, comrades and colleague’s in struggle for a better Nigeria, we the INITIATIVE AGAINST HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSE AND TORTURE (INAHURAT) bring solidarity greetings to you all.
Our country has over time labeled and accused the youth of this country as lazy and unproductive youths.
Nigerian youths have been detained, tortured and molested and used as a tool for political thuggery by its so called “Father Land” amidst their potentials and exploits in all farcet of life.
However with that been said, the INAHURAT would like to seize this opportunity to appreciate organizations, well spirited individuals who worked tirelessly to assist the oppressed, and promote the fundamental rights to liberty and freedom of expression and association.
It’s through their ensured efforts that many of the protesters and unlawfully detained Comrades were able to regain their freedom. We extend our hearts of gratitude to the following groups and individuals Such as NBA and its committees, AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL, ACTIONAID, SERAP, CISLAC, RULAAC, PLAC, HEDA, FES, AREWA YOUTH, TAKE BACK MOVEMENT, SOCIAL ACTION, we are also grateful to FALANA CHAMBERS ably represented by MARSHALL ABUBAKAR ESQ, INIBEHE EFFIONG ESQ, PRINCE DEJI ADEYANJU ESQ, MAXWELL OPARA ESQ, AK MUSA ESQ, TOPE TEMOKUN ESQ, OMOYELE SOWORE and all our AFFLIATE GROUPS among others.
The coalition thanks all the MEDIA platforms for their professionalism in their report and broadcast ,most notably are; AIT, ARISE TV, CHANNELS TV, ITV, GLOBAL TV ALL RADIO STATIONS especially RADIO NIGERIA, ALL PRINT MEDIA’S involved in this struggle such as PUNCH NEWSPAPERS, VANGUARD NEWS, DAILY INDEPENDENT, GUARDIAN NEWSPAPER ONLINE MEDIA’S ICIR, SAHARA REPORTERS, THE CABLES, KUBWA EXPRESS ,PREMIUM TIMES etc.INAHURAT thanks the trial Judge of the August peaceful protesters HON JUSTICE EMEKA NWITE for exercising his discretion in granting the bail variation and further request that he hears the two applications for the 76 and 29 protesters still in detention without trial.
INAHURAT reaffirms its existing demands Placing all political office holders on same salary scheme as Nigeria workers, Fixing all public refineries, Reversal of all increments which includes fuel, electricity tariffs, school fees among others, Progressive taxation system where the rich pay their fair share.
However we are still worried and concern with the growing frustration of the unemployed youths caused by the state actors, the untold sufferings, especially , the risk and safety of prospective corp members.
The National Youth Services Corp ( NYSC) ought to be a program that unify the country through her cultural integration programmes. It was basically drafted by the then Gowon administration to build unity irrespective of our diversity, it has been a mirage of its original purpose or intent in recent times, were Prospective Corp members were made to return home upon mobilization to camp as seen in the recent camps of batch B in many states, with the alleged report of gross incompetence, impunity, abuse of power, unilateral decisions, favoritism, among many other accusations levied against the Director General (DG)of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Brig Gen YD Ahmed. We believe “ there’s no smoke without fire “.
It is on this note we call on E.F.C.C, National Assembly ( committees on ethics and privileges), Code of Conduct and other security agencies to investigate the allegations levied on the DG NYSC Brig Gen YD Ahmed.
We also seek his suspension from office while his investigation is ongoing.
Also the protesters still in detention are unemployed youths whose only crime is their demands to end bad governance, now the reasons for the protests have been defeated, instead of reduction in prices in the energy sector we continue to see increase with suppression of voices, the youths must prepare to save what is left of our country Nigeria, the Organised Labour should come out of their shell and rise up to the occasion.
INAHURAT call on the Attorney General of the Federation and Federal Government of Nigeria to drop all charges against these youths (protesters), as continued detention of these youths is unlawful and an infringement of their rights.
Thank you.