By Onovwiona Onoriode Blessed
In a shocking display of apathy and complicity, the Youth Wing of the Urhobo Progressive Union (UPU) has denounced the proposed nationwide protest against the crippling hardship in Nigeria. This communique, signed by Activist Blessed Ughere, is a stark betrayal of the trust placed in the union by the Urhobo youth and a blatant contradiction of the values of progress and unity that the UPU purports to represent.
By refusing to support the protest, the UPU Youth Wing is, in effect, condoning the status quo of poverty, inequality, and insecurity that has ravaged the nation. Their reasoning, that protesting would be “counterproductive” due to security challenges, is a weak excuse that ignores the root causes of these challenges and the suffering of the masses.
Moreover, the union’s claim that protesting would “exacerbate existing security challenges” is a thinly veiled attempt to stifle dissent and maintain the oppressive grip of the ruling elite. It is a stark reminder of the union’s allegiance to the powers that be, rather than the people they claim to represent.
The UPU Youth Wing’s appeal to boycott the protest and their call for citizens to be “cautious, vigilant, and alert” is a thinly veiled attempt to intimidate and silence those who would dare challenge the status quo. It is a betrayal of the trust placed in them as leaders and a dereliction of their duty to advocate for the rights and interests of the Urhobo people.
In contrast, true leadership would involve standing in solidarity with the masses, amplifying their voices, and demanding meaningful change. The UPU Youth Wing’s rejection of the protest is a stark reminder of their failure to provide such leadership and their complicity in perpetuating the suffering of the Urhobo people.
I Comrade Onovwiona Onoriode Blessed condemn the UPU Youth Wing’s communique and call on all Urhobo youths and concerned citizens to reject this betrayal of trust. We urge them to join the nationwide protest and demand a better future for themselves, their children, and their community. Together, we can create a brighter future, free from the shackles of oppression and hardship.
Written by Onovwiona Blessed
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