RELEASE OF SAPELE PROTESTERS: Groups Laud AAC Leadership, Stakeholders Over Roles To Secure Arrested 18 leaders

“Government must ensure that the people have what they need to enable them observe the stay at home order and at the same time, show love and not this forceful stay at home”.... Comrade Anselm Obaro

"The priority of government now is to provide welfare and safety of lives to the people especially as the novel coronavirus is ravaging the country".

The leadership of the African Action Congress, AAC Sapele Chapter and other stakeholders that confronted the Delta state government over the 18 persons arrested during the April 15 protest, have been commended for standing with the people of Sapele.

The 18 persons were arrested for the roles they allegedly played as leaders of the protest that rocked the ancient city when the residents came out to protest the continued lockdown by the state government despite the pressing hunger confronting the people whilst government remained unruffled.

Commending the AAC and other stakeholders for the various roles they played to secure the release of the 18 persons amongst whom is Mrs. Apandan alleged to have lead the protests, a youth leader in Sapele said government needs to prioritize its battles.

The priority of government now is to provide welfare and safety of lives to the people especially as the novel coronavirus is ravaging the country.

“Government must ensure that the people have what they need to enable them observe the stay at home order and at the same time, show love and not this forceful stay at home”.

Speaking with Comrade Anslem Obaro, a youth leader in Sapele, he stressed that the leadership of the AAC in Sapele deserves commendation its resilience and doggedness in standing with the people over the obnoxious rule of the Okowa administration.

He opined that even in America where the coronavirus pandemic has claimed more lives, the government did not lockdown the citizens without considerations to the welfare and wellbeing of the people. People were provided with financial assistance to help them stay indoors.

Comrade Obaro noted that the arrest of Apandan and the 17 others was most unnecessary and uncalled for as the people needed food to eat while indoors on the stay at home order.

“Many people are daily earners and asking them to remain indoors, any sane leader would understand that such a directive will be a hard sell especially when there is hunger in the land and the people have nothing to eat”, he said.

“With the government asking people to stay indoors, where will people get money to stock food items when the same government has failed to meet the needs of the people”, Obaro queried.

Sources in Sapele however revealed that the state government, on Monday 21^st April, ordered for the immediate release of Mrs. Apandan and the other 17. This, the sources say was due to the pressure of the African Action Congress and other stakeholders who genuinely, seek to provide quality and sustained leadership to the people of Delta state.