While reacting to the destruction of properties on Friday and Saturday in Calabar by some hoodlums, he said the act was not normal.
According to Donald Duke, the #EndSARS protest is a cry for an end to corruption and diversion of public funds meant to better the living of citizens, hence, hoodlums are not to be blamed for vandalizing properties.
“We often want to blame these happenings on criminals and miscreants, but they are no such people, we created them, they are human beings.
“I find it deplorable when people regard others as miscreants. They are our children. If you don’t provide for them, train them and give them hope, they will take laws into their hands; but the point is we need to rise up and correct these things.
“We must mean what we say and say what we mean. When the youths feel that your words are empty statements, they won’t take you seriously anymore,” he said.
He noted that if the tragic incident that occurred in Calabar should happen again, then the state is “finished”.
Donald Duke, who charged the government to be ready to find solutions to the problems, said that the uniqueness of the state hospitality has been affected.
“The youths have been bruised and we need to address that and heal their scars. My desire is to reach out to them, speak to them and ask for forgiveness; so that we can forgive them too and create a better society.
“We love Cross River, the soonest we come out, we will encourage others to do same. We need the support of everyone to do this. We should encourage the government to succeed, regardless of what we think.
“Some of the protesters are idle, if they are employed, they won’t be on the streets. You can’t say you have a right to life without given a right to livelihood.
“When you see someone carting away a used toilet base, you should know there is a big problem. We need to help our young people to succeed. We need to educate, equip and sustain them,” he said.
Donald Duke added that the furniture, cars, and other properties destroyed can be replaced, but no human life can be replaced, hence the youths should sheath their swords.
According to Donald Duke, the youths were passing a strong message to the leaders, not through words that are loud enough.
