…As Oyo govt to sign MoU with leadership of various groups
By Adeyinka Adeniran
Stakeholders have called on prospective planners of proposed nationwide protests to ensure that the protest does not go the way of devastating EndSARS tragedy as they press home their demand against hardship in the country.
They made the call at a Youth stakeholders’ meeting held at the House of Chiefs, Parliament Building Secretariat, Ibadan, emphasizing the need for peaceful protests and urging security agencies to take proactive measures to prevent any breakdown of law and order particularly in Oyo state.
The stakeholders meeting was organised by the Oyo State Agency For Youth Development and attended by other stakeholders including the Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Youth Initiatives, Monitoring and Delivery, Mrs Titilope Gbadamosi, Oyo State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Com. Wasilat Adegoke, Executive Assistant to Governor Makinde of Youth Development, Seun Fakorede among others.
Leading the call, the Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Youth Initiatives, Monitoring and Delivery, Mrs Titilope Gbadamosi appealed to all the youths to be patient with the government, describing the current situation the country is going through as a healing process.
She said the Federal Government has and still introducing lots of initiative for youths and Nigerians which are been disseminated to the sub-nationals.
Noting that the President is working day and night to deliver a country which everyone will be proud of, she said going to the street and vandalising properties of other Nigerians won’t change anything but only worsen the situation for other Nigerians.
She identified, the Nigeria Youth Investment Fund, Skill Up Artisan, Nigerian Youth Academy among other efforts that youths can explore and harness for economic development.
She said “To the young people who are unhappy, I want to appeal to all of you to please be patient with this government. It’s a healing process that we are going through. And I want to appeal to you to understand that the President Bola Tinubu is working day and night to make sure we have a Nigeria that we will all be proud of.
“The journey might not be easy. We know, we are in this together and so I can only appeal to young Nigerians. Please look at the gains of this administration.
“Access government platforms. Look at what initiative the government has for you but if you take to the street and destroy properties of other Nigerians. You haven’t changed anything. You’ve only worsen the situation for other Nigerians including yourself.
“We want you to open responsible channels of communication with government, the Ministry of youth development holds town hall meetings. I am available and accessible. Please let us have responsible channels of Communication and pray that God will bless our efforts.
Also speaking, Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Adebo Ogundoyin emphasized the need for peaceful protests and urged security agencies to take proactive measures to prevent any breakdown of law and order particularly in Oyo State.
He said, “It is no longer news that our country is facing numerous challenges, and the citizens have the right to express their grievances through peaceful protests.
“However, we must learn from the past and take proactive measures to prevent violence and ensure the safety of our citizens.
“As we face the prospect of another nationwide protest, we must ask ourselves: What did we learn from the past? How can we ensure that our actions lead to positive change without causing further harm? It is our responsibility to approach this situation with wisdom and foresight.
“Today, I call upon all stakeholders, government officials, community leaders, activists, and citizens to engage in dialogue and seek peaceful and constructive solutions to our grievances. Let us harness the power of 3Cs – Consultation, Collaboration, and Compromise. We must build bridges of understanding and work together to address the issues that concern us all.
“There’s no doubt that protests have their place in a democratic society, but they must be conducted in a manner that respects the rule of law and the rights of others. Violent protests will only lead to destruction, chaos and further sufferings.”
The Speaker specifically asked security agencies to identify potential hotspots and secure protesters, saying “we cannot afford to lose any life or property during this protest”.
He also appealed to protesters to conduct themselves peacefully and avoid any actions that could lead to violence.
“We understand the hardship in the land at the moment. However, we must protest in a peaceful and lawful manner. We must not allow our emotions to get the better of us, and we must not allow miscreants to hijack the protest.”
The Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development, Wasilat Adegoke said the protesters must ensure it is devoid of violence saying “Destroying properties and all that, is not the solution to what is on ground and whatever happens during the process of protest is what will definitely bounce back on us.
“That protest is not the one that will stop the problem on ground. That is why we should use our initiative. That is why we have to come together and that is the essence of calling this meeting. We sit down together the Ministry of youth and sport, Agency for youth development to make sure that before our youths can go out there, we make sure that we tutor them, we dialogue and we rub minds together on how to make the protest peaceful one and that is what we are doing.”
Also speaking, the chairman, Oyo State Agency for Youth Development, Prince Falana Adebowale said the government reached out to recognised groups who expressed interest in participating in the protest to educate them and caution them.on the need for sanity and avoidance of violence in the state.
He said the state government through the Agency will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the leaders of the various groups so as to know who to hold responsible if things go wrong during the protest.
He warned that the government will not allow anyone go to the street in protest without identifying the leaders of such group of individuals.
