Igbo youths, represented by the Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL), are demanding the immediate release of the detained Ebonyi whistleblower, Comrade Chidi Nwoba. The apex sociopolitical youth group in the South East geopolitical zone has vowed to mobilize for a 2 million-man march in Abakaliki if he is not freed by Thursday, February 22.
In a statement jointly signed by the President General, Comrade Goodluck Ibem, and the Publicity Secretary, Comrade Okey Nwaoru, COSEYL expressed disappointment over Nwoba’s arrest and detention. Nwoba was reportedly arrested for demanding accountability over the N3 billion released by the Ebonyi State Government for youth empowerment.
The statement, made available to Vanguard in Umuahia, read: “We have watched with utter dismay and disappointment as security agencies and government institutions meant to strengthen and build democracy are being used by state government officials to destroy the same democratic norms and values which they swore to protect on assumption of office. We have decided to say no to every form of anti-democratic tendencies perpetuated by state government officials.
“As the apex sociopolitical youth in South East mandated by our people to defend them and their interest at all times, we are staging a 2-Million-Man Protest on Thursday, February 22, 2024, to demand the immediate release of Comrade Chidi Nwoba, who is currently under detention by the State Government for demanding accountability and transparency for N3 billion released for the empowerment of Ebonyi indigenes who are currently serving as house-helps and hawking goods across the nation.
“It will interest the state Governor Rt. Hon. Francis Nwifuru to know that people come to Ebonyi State from different states to take young girls in pretence that they are to serve as house-helps for persons unknown to them while the true purpose of taking them is to sale them to criminally-minded people who use them as sex-slaves in brothels and hotels.
“The program of Governor Nwifuru to empower these set of persons is a noble one but it will be wrong if he allows some persons within his government to drag his noble idea into the mud, hence the urgent need to release Chidi Nwoba and look critically at those concerns he raised to ensure that the programme see the light of the day.
“The Governor should know that if this programme succeeds, people looking for or searching for house-helps will no longer come to Ebonyi but will rather look in other directions.
“Nigerians are currently very angry and facing serious economic hardships and starvation, and we will not stop the protest until Comrade Nwoba is unconditionally released.
“We call on Civil Society groups, youths, men, women, and all lovers of democracy to mobilize themselves for a 2 Million Man March Protest in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, to demand the immediate release of Comrade Chidi Nwoba.
“We urge everyone to come with their sleeping mats, cooking stoves, pots, and plates because we are not leaving the streets until Nwoba is released.
“An injury to one is an injury to all. One of our Comrades is injured, which is an injury to all lovers of democracy. “
