Ishaya Durkwa, Executive Director of the International Organization for Peace Building and Social Justice (PSJ Nigeria) has commended the people of Plateau State for their peaceful protest against hunger and bad governance.
Durkwa, who addressed the crowd during a town hall meeting with Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State praised government and security forces for their support in maintaining peace during the protest.
Durkwa emphasized that the protest was not just a youth movement but a national call to action.
“Hunger is not only a youth problem, it is a national problem. Our parents are hungry. Our children are equally hungry. The youth are only the face of this, but it must not be limited to a youth protest. It was a national protest”, he said.
He expressed gratitude to the State Government for listening to the demands of the people and urged them to take action.
“We sent out messages to say that we don’t even need to protest if our leaders would start speaking and listening to the cries of the youth”, Durkwa said.
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Durkwa highlighted the significance of the protest, stating that it marked an opportunity for Plateau State to provide leadership to the nation.
“This protest has shown that we can protest without violence, that we can present our demands without violence, and that we can be heard without violence,” he said.
He praised the leaders of the coalition against bad governance for their tireless efforts in maintaining peace during the protest.
Durkwa emphasized the need for the government to engage with the leaders of the coalition and the youth to strategize further.
He praised the members of the security forces for their role in maintaining peace and called for inclusive leadership that raises new leaders.
He urged the Government to take action on the demands of the people. “Please listen to the cries of the people, consider their demands, and let Plateau lead the nation. We can show that as a people Muslims, Christians, and traditionalists we can live together in unity,” he said.
