Home Editorials Southwest governors to youths: embrace dialogue

Southwest governors to youths: embrace dialogue

by Bioreports
5 views
southwest-governors-to-youths:-embrace-dialogue

 Emmanuel Oladesu, Deputy Editor

SOUTHWEST governors on Tuesday appealed to youths in the region to embrace dialogue with relevant government agencies to end the #EndSARS protests.

The governors, who had imposed a 24-hour curfew in their states, also urged security agencies to exercise restraint in the face of provocation by those who have hijacked the protests.

Lagos, Ogun, Ekiti and Ondo states imposed 24-hour curfew to prevent what they described as a slide into anarchy.

The Chairman of the Southwest Governors’ Forum, Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) advised the youths to embrace peace, saying that “the time to end the protest is now.”

In a statement titled:”For the attention of our youths and residents of Southwest of Nigeria,” the governor said the region should not be allowed to be turned into a battle field.”

Akeredolu said:”We appeal to the security agencies to exercise restraint in the face of ostensibly contrived provocation. The governors of the Southwest are resolved not to allow any persons who harbour extraneous interests to the present and immediate reasons for the civil disobedience to hijack the process for parochial benefits.

“No person, no matter the social standing, will be allowed to turn our land into a battle field and our youths, cannon folders. Let’s embrace peace. The time to end the protest is now.”

The governor, who called for vigilance, observed that the news from the neighbouring states and Southwest were very disturbing, adding that the reportage were tendentious and calculated to achieve a pernicious purpose.

Akeredolu said the events of the past seven days, particularly the youth’s outpouring of emotion against the disbanded SARS unit, have produced experiences that are critical to the understanding and growth of the polity.

He said governors of the Southwest, who are also parents anxious to witness generational shift, are proud of the youths who have been protesting against injustice.

Read Also: Akeredolu plotting to forge my signature, Deputy alleges

The governor added: “This period has afforded us the opportunity to learn so much. Pent up emotions have been let loose. We have had a glimpse into what the future holds. We are very hopeful and imbued with the knowledge of your capacity.”

Akeredolu said while youths and other stakeholders had spoken and made some gains from the protests, they must, as patriotic citizens, put the country first all their endeavours.

Urging understanding and more sacrifices, he said stakeholders should be proactive in ensuring that the positive signals got in the last couple of days are not reversed to assuage greed and wanton predilection towards anarchy.

Akeredolu noted that Southwest governments have been setting up judicial panels of inquiry into police brutality and victim compensation funds.

He explained that the purpose is to right the wrongs of the past and lay the foundation for “a new and wholesome type of relationship between the police and the people.”

Akeredolu lamented that the noble objective of the protests have been tainted with partisan brush, stressing that parochial elements have infiltrated the demonstrations while criminals have seized the opportunity to unleash mayhem on innocent citizens.

He added:”Many people going to their offices and other places of work have been harassed and beaten by hoodlums. Some have been robbed. Criminals are attacking security operatives under the guise of fighting for human rights of those oppressed by SARS, even after the disbandment.

“There is a creeping sense of pervasive anarchy. We cannot afford to slip into the Hobbesian state where life will be “nasty, brutish and short” in the Southwest.”

Akeredolu, who appealed to the youths to allow the government to attend to their grievances, maintained that “this cannot happen in an atmosphere of anarchy and disregard to authorities.”

He said: “The safety of lives and property of the citizens is the supreme law which any responsible government must uphold. We swore to protect our people. We must not be seen to be failing in this regard. We intend to do the needful.”

You may also like

Leave a Comment