Critical stakeholders in Ekiti State have called on residents of the state to toe the path of peace over the planned nationwide protest scheduled to begin on August 1 over the economic situation in the country.
The stakeholders who acknowledged the biting economic hardship in the country, said the situation can only be addressed in the atmosphere of peace.
The Ekiti stakeholders made the appeal in Ado Ekiti at an emergency stakeholders’ meeting convened by the state’s Police Command to brainstorm on the impending nationwide protests
The meeting which held at the Police Officers Mess in the state capital was attended by top government officials, students’ bodies, youth groups, transport unions, Okada riders, traditional rulers, community leaders, security agencies and local government chairmen, among others.
Speaking during the engagement, the state Commissioner of Police, CP Adeniran Akinwale said there was need for the people to allow peace to reign and obey the constitutional provision, if the protest must hold.
“Security is everybody’s business and that is our primarily concern. On the planned protests, we are appealing, and they have assured us they will not allow such a thing to happen.
“If there is any destruction, poor people will be the one suffer. We will continue to engage and appeal to them and, I believe we will not have issues.
“But if they do otherwise, we are preparing and strategising to challenge anything that comes, but we don’t want violence and destruction of properties. We will continue to fine-tune our strategies to ensure that we are able to cope with any situation,” Akinwale said.
For his part, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Brig.-Gen. Ebenezer Ogundana, (Rtd), advised the people to give peace a chance, saying the problems confronting the nation cannot be solved in one day.
“Ekiti has put measures in place, saying protesters should not allow criminals to penetrate them to destroy properties or cause violence in the land,” he stressed.
The state’s Commissioner for Information, Rt. Hon. Taiwo Olatunbosun, called on the Ekiti people to make the state work, by ensuring that security of lives and property of everyone is protected.
“We want Ekiti to develop. Let us talk to our children and wards not to join the protest. I believe the resolution at this stakeholders’ meeting is that we desire as our priority the peaceful coexistence of the people of Nigeria and of course, Ekiti State.
“We equally agreed that it is in the atmosphere of peace, tranquility that we can enjoy our development and growth. Yes, we understand the fact that there are challenges based on what has been enumerated which of course the government is aware of and doing everything possible to address,” Olatunbosun said.
Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the state, Rev. (Dr.) Emmanuel Aribasoye, noted the people’s suffering in terms of hunger and other challenges but pleaded with the government to make life bearable for the people.
Rev Aribasoye said policies of government currently were not helping matters in the country, saying and urged the federal government to reason with the people.
The cleric also added his voice, saying, “The church says there shouldn’t be any reasons for a protest at this time in Ekiti State”.
The Olufaki of Ifaki, Oba Adegbenro Falore who represented the Chairman of the Ekiti State Traditional Council said, “Peace is non-negotiable in every society. We should not encourage protest. We say ‘no to violence, protest and looting”.
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