Issuing a strong warning against individuals planning to exploit the proposed national hunger protest to sow chaos in Nigeria, the Yoruba Obas Forum, a group representing monarchs from the South West and North Central regions, emphasized the need to reject such intentions.
Expressing their stance, the royal fathers released a statement from Osogbo, the capital of Osun State, on Tuesday.
Signed jointly by the National President, Oba Samuel Adeoye, the Molokun of Atijere, Oba Michael Ajayi, the Elerinmo of Erinmo, and the Forum’s Public Relations Officer, Oba Asunmo Aderibigbe, the statement underlines the Forum’s sense of the prevailing challenges and urges a strategic and dialogical approach as the most effective course of action.
“Protests do not represent the solution to a nation’s issues; instead, they often lead to the destruction of lives and property.
“As the Yoruba Obas Forum, we appreciate the role of protests in the democratic process, yet we caution against any malicious exploitation of these events for violent or criminal activities. We are alert to certain factions aiming to manipulate the upcoming protest to incite chaos and disorder. It is crucial to prevent non-state actors from disturbing the current peace and stability in our land. Please exercise restraint.
“While we recognize your right to protest, we urge you to consider the broader implications on our national unity and progress. Dialogues, conferences, and cooperative efforts prove more effective in finding solutions and preventing adverse effects.
“Once again, we, the Yoruba Obas, implore our youth to refrain from embracing anarchy or vandalism, acknowledging the prevalent issues of hunger, insecurity, and unemployment. However, the signs are clear that another nationwide protest would exacerbate economic troubles and security concerns. As your paternal figures, we earnestly plead with you to suspend the planned protest for the sake of our beloved nation,” the statement highlights.
Moreover, the Forum cautioned that with Nigeria’s fragile economic state, it cannot afford further unrest, stressing that President Bola Tinubu’s relatively new administration is diligently working to enhance the living standards of the populace.