In a press briefing held at the Metropolitan Hotel in Calabar on July 31, 2024, various interest groups declared their disassociation from a planned protest.
Mr. Olayi Gregory, State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, addressed journalists, emphasizing the importance of peaceful expressions of grievances. "It's tough for everyone, but protests should not be an option. We, the workers in Cross River State, are not participating and are distancing ourselves from this protest. Cross River has been set back by 25 years because of EndSars of 2020," he stated.
Similarly, Comrade Monday Ugbodum, Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), condemned the protest, describing it as "faceless."
A representative from the Coalition of the Civil Society Network stressed the right to protest but warned against the destructive aftermath, referencing the EndSARS protests. "Protesters are driven by hunger, poverty, and inflation. However, our protests should take the form of town hall meetings," he suggested.
His Youthfulness Olay Emmanuel, State Chairman of the Youth Council of Nigeria, Cross River State Chapter, emphasized dialogue over protest. "We acknowledge the challenges but have chosen dialogue as our approach. We have a governor who listens, and we cannot let a few dictate the outcome. We will document the issues young people face and present them to the government."
Mr. Nta Effiom Henshaw of the Unified Commercial Drivers Association also opposed the protest. "We do not support any kind of protest. We remember the hardships of 2020 and cannot endure that again. We have only one state, and we must protect it," he concluded.
Others also took turns to say no to Protests in Cross River State
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