Oborevwori and CAN President Urge Reevaluation of Nationwide Protest, Express Concerns Over Potential Miscreant Hijack

Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, on Tuesday, expressed grave concern at what could be an unintended outcome of the planned August 1 hunger protest in the country and pleaded that it be shelved, even as the National President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, appealed to the federal government to come out very clearly with policies and actions that would reassure the common man that government is sincerely committed to improving their welfare, while government functionaries should also curb their extravagant lifestyle amidst widespread poverty.
Arguing that such protests would not solve the nation’s challenges but rather aggravate them considering the outcome of previous protests that were hijacked by hoodlums, Governor Oborevwori, who spoke when he hosted Archbishop Okoh and his delegation at the Government House, Asaba, said government was addressing issues raised.
According to him, “few days ago, I read your press statement on this protest. I was very happy; and your coming here today is an opportunity for you to talk to other fathers of faith in this state, to continue to put this state and the country in prayers. We know it is a very hard time, but our belief is that any time our people go to the streets to protest, the outcome is always different.
“We know all the demands and requests of the protesters. We are doing our best to make sure that our people are being taken care of. So, protest is not the solution at this time. You have reasons to protest; but can you manage the protest? We have seen it in the past; we know what happened and how it ended. People were robbed and attacked.
“We have listened to your cry, and we are doing our best. The solution is that we have to be more united and peaceful to see how we can move the state from the level it is today to a higher level. I believe we will achieve it.
“So, your coming is a blessing because you need to talk to our people. At the evening service today or tomorrow, you can preach to our people not to take laws into their hands. There are already planning to hijack the process. You have a big role to play in these few days you will stay here, and I know that this state will continue to enjoy peace.”
Earlier in his speech, the visiting CAN President applauded Governor Oborevwori for his administration’s commitment to rapid infrastructural development of the state through rehabilitation of roads and construction of new ones.
Archbishop Okoh said, “we commend your untiring efforts in maintaining peace and tranquility in Delta State. It is an incontrovertible fact that peace is an indispensable factor in accelerating development and attracting investments and this you have done with passion”.
He informed the governor of an upcoming event of great physical and spiritual importance called ‘Africa Sings’, explaining that it is an international choral music festival and singing competition billed to take place in Asaba between October 8 and October 13, 2024.
On the planned hunger protest in the country, Archbishop Okoh said; “when we say we are doing protest, most cases, we say we are doing it for the common man; but we must also do it in such a way that the interest of the common man is also protected.
“Antecedents have shown that miscreants tend to hijack the process and so, we are a bit worried that it might go the way that many people will not be comfortable with, and that miscreants might see it as an opportunity to loot shops of the common people and to break into the homes of the common people under the pretense of protest. Therefore, we are saying that we can actually explore other means of expressing our dissatisfaction with what is going on in our country.
“On the other hand, we appeal to government to come out very clearly with policies and actions that will reassure the common man that government is sincerely committed to improving the living conditions of the people, and people who are in government should try as much as possible to reduce their opulent lifestyle in the midst of poverty.”