Special Assistant to Ebonyi State Governor on Petroleum, Hon John Nwafor.
By Victor Nwegede, Abakaliki.
Governor Francis Nwifuru's youth-friendly government made Ebonyi residents stage no protest against hunger and bad governance in the state, NATIONAL PANEL reports.
The Special Assistant to the Governor on Petroleum, John Nwafor who stated this during an interview with newsmen at Abakaliki, said his principal, Chief Francis Nwifuru has streamlined his government programs to majorly benefit the youths in the state.
According to him, Nwifuru's all-inclusive and youth-friendly leadership system was one of the major reasons the Ebonyi residents unanimously declared no protest against bad governance would be held in Ebonyi state.
He recalled that Nigerian youths staged a hunger protest in some parts of Nigeria including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja but in Ebonyi, its residents were busy doing their legitimate businesses.
He noted that the election of Nwifuru who is also a youth to be the fourth Executive Governor of Ebonyi State in 2023, was one of the major pointers for the state residents not participating in the nationwide hunger protest.
Nwafor added that the governor considered Ebonyi youths favorably in elective, appointive positions and other empowerment programs and described the gesture as another major reason for the state residents not taking to the streets to protest against bad governance.
"Youths they said are the leaders of tomorrow but today youths are the leaders of today. That's the handiwork of the governor of Ebonyi State who is also a youth. He has been doing well extremely since he assumed office.
"So, on the side of the youths, we are covered, and therefore there's no need for protest. The day-to-day activities of the governor have been streamlined mostly on the youths. Youths are at the forefront of the leadership of this state, making inputs for the benefit of the populace, and that's why nobody comes out in the streets to stage protests against bad governance in Ebonyi State like other states in the country."
Ascertaining whether there was a measure to sustain steady sales of fuel in Ebonyi as the hunger protest was going on in other states, Nwafor further said that he and the leadership of the Independent Petroleum Dealers worked together to ensure no filling station closes down or increases the pump price in the state.
"We have the leadership of the Independent Petroleum dealers in the state, we work together and have visited filling stations to make sure those who out of fear of the planned nationwide protest closed their stations, opened them because there's no protest in Ebonyi.
"We told them not to panic any longer because everywhere was calm in Ebonyi, and they should open their filling stations. I have been visiting from one filling station to another but those of them who closed early hours of today, I told them no, because there's no need to close the stations.
"It is because Ebonyi state governor has created a very enabling environment for businesses to thrive including petroleum. That's why there's no protest in Ebonyi and there's no need to close their filling stations. That's why you see them opening their filling stations now. Those of them who had closed their stations due to fear or panic have opened their filling stations to sell petroleum.
"Generally, we have a fixed pump price, which is across the whole nation, not only in Ebonyi State. There's nothing like an increment in the pump price as it stands now. If any of the petroleum dealers increase pump prices, we will clamp down on the station because the act is against the government. There will be no need for them to increase the price as a result of the protest in other states because anybody found engaging in such an act will not be left for free. We are going to clamp on the individuals, who increase the fuel pump price."
The governor's aide thus urged the youths across the nation especially those from Ebonyi to strive to be useful youths and not the useless ones, while emphasizing the need to be law-abiding citizens in society.
"We should continue to be law-abiding, and work in line with the administration visions of Governor Francis Nwifuru in Ebonyi State, as a youthful and useful people in the society," Nwafor hinted.
