Kogi Gov. commends NANS for suspending nationwide protest

Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has commended the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) for aborting their proposals for national protests, calling the decision “wise, patriotic and in tune with current security realities.”

Kogi’s Information and Communications Commissioner Kingsley Fanwo said in a statement on Friday.

Fanwo, who spoke to reporters at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa International Airport in Bauchi on Friday, expressed the Kogi government’s appreciation for the student body’s “big decision”.

Fanwo also appreciated the association for listening to Governor Yahaya Bello‘s appeal to stop the protest planned for the national interest.

“It is a known fact that the Kogi government, under the leadership of Governor Yahaya Bello, has shown unprecedented determination and commitment to develop and empower the youth of this nation.

“Young people from Anambra, Kaduna, Borno, Lagos and many other states in the federation are working with the governor to put Kogi on the high marks she enjoys today.

“About 90 percent of the Kogi cabinet are young people and from across the country. We enacted the Youth Commission Bill and empowered our youth through quality education, agriculture and ICTs.

“In our higher education institutions, there are no industrial actions because we have removed all obstacles to the education of our current and future leaders.

“Any protest at this stage will unbalance our fragile security situation and our young people have shown patriotism in refusing to endanger our people.

“They have also done well in seeing through the destabilization agenda of an opposition without ideas. What PDP wants is for this nation to join them in the ashes. It won’t happen, ”Fanwo said.

Regarding the state government’s reported threat to protesters, the commissioner said the governor would not threaten his “friends”.

“I think the state representative was quoted out of context. The governor is a young man and all young Nigerians are his friends. He wouldn’t threaten them.

“What the state security adviser has warned against are extreme actions that generally put people at risk. Protest is a people’s right and the governor respects human rights. But we will not tolerate any action that threatens the peace we enjoy in Kogi State.

“The governor is the hope of Nigerian youth and they trusted his leadership. He won’t disappoint them, ”Fanwo said.

Asked about the governor’s presidential ambition, he said it was “the ambition of Nigerian women, youth and all Nigerians”.

“The governor is not deaf to the enthusiastic appeals inviting him to come and lead the nation. He is monitoring the situation. You could see how the people here were chanting his name as well.

“We are already overwhelmed but our heads are cold. We know what we want and what Nigerians want.

“Nigeria‘s twin problems are disunity and insecurity. The president is doing his best and is to be commended. But Nigerians also know that the man who can consolidate his efforts is the man who united Kogi and provided security.

“Yahaya Bello is not a geopolitical brand. It is a national brand that everyone trusts. He did not accept the call but he will not reject it when he takes the floor, ”said the commissioner.