Conventional Rulers in Nigeria on Thursday requested the organisers of #EndBadGovernance protests to channel their frustrations into significant dialogue with the Federal Authorities.
Additionally they warned in opposition to the potential for the protests being hijacked by components whom, they are saying, imply no good for the nation.
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, who co-chairs the Nationwide Council of Conventional Rulers of Nigeria, stated this when he addressed journalists after an expanded cupboard assembly on the State Home, Abuja, on Thursday.
“Folks which can be on the market to protest, it’s their civic proper. However allow them to put a face to it, and don’t let it’s hijacked by folks that have ulterior motives. That’s our stand.
“We conventional rulers are usually not in help of individuals, particularly youths, popping out to loot and break down regulation and order. We condemn such acts absolutely.
“We’re dad and mom. We’re conventional rulers. We’re nearer to them. We’re going to return residence and proceed to have interaction them,” the Ooni stated.
His remarks comply with rising requires nationwide protests in opposition to financial hardship, scheduled for August 1 – 15, 2024.
Thursday’s assembly was a part of last-ditch efforts by the Federal Authorities to have interaction crucial stakeholders to avert what it perceives as a brewing disaster.
The Ooni, who promised that the normal rulers would interact their individuals again residence, appealed to organisers to embrace dialogue, saying the federal government stays open to speaking.
“The President has stated, ‘Any chief that you simply don’t like, wait (till 2027) and vote him out.’ He’s open to dialogue. We all know that Nigeria faces many challenges. However are we going to destroy our nation by ourselves? Is that what we’re all after?
“It is vitally troublesome to construct, however it’s the best to destroy. We’re all stakeholders on this nation and are stronger as a nation than individually.
“We should always discuss to ourselves. We have to know that at the moment, it’s a very totally different spin. The federal government, ably led by the President, is prepared to have interaction and dialogue and convey governance very near the individuals,” he defined.
Oba Adeyeye stated the assembly was the primary occasion the place the Federal Government Council engaged instantly with conventional rulers.
“Stewardship from the Federal Government Council, on to the normal rulers? It has by no means occurred in our nation earlier than. By no means! That is the primary time we’re all experiencing it.
“In the present day is the very first time we will likely be addressed correctly by the Federal Government Council…when it comes to the plans of presidency, their achievements to this point, and the place they’re having challenges. So, there’s a correct bridge between the ruled and the individuals in command of authorities.
“For the very first time, the normal rulers had been correctly engaged. That is long-awaited. We’re nearer to our individuals and might carry that suggestions again residence. So, it’s an exquisite take residence for us as a result of we don’t lock our palaces; we’re extra uncovered to the individuals we rule over,” he narrated, thanking Tinubu for the strategy.
On his half, the Dein of Agbor Kingdom, Ikenchukwu Keagborokuzi I, appealed to Nigerian youths to work with the FG utilizing all obtainable alternatives.
Keagborokuzi, who described Nigerian youths because the nation’s power, acknowledged the displeasing challenges confronting them however stated that the #EndBadGovernance protests wouldn’t clear up the nation’s issues.
“Listening to from Mr. President instantly, the take-home message for me is that I can see the eagerness. However on the identical time, I feel the federal government is lastly understanding we’re on the precipice.
“We’ll hearken to our youths as a result of they lead the long run. The ability and power of Nigeria actually lie with the younger individuals. We really feel your ache. I’m a youngster myself.
“It’s been 24 years since I’ve began seeing the nation moving into a really unpalatable course. This protest, I do know that it’s very tight in our neck, however allow us to not destroy our personal nation,” stated the normal ruler.
He cited the aftermath of the Arab Spring in Libya, urging Nigerian youths to rethink the deliberate protest.
“Consider Libya. Libya was an exquisite nation; what has occurred to Libya, we don’t need it to occur right here.
“Let’s go residence. Let’s proceed to attempt to be one of the best that we will and proceed to work with the federal government to see if we will supply some options.
“I feel that that may be finest moderately than to destroy property or injure ourselves,” he suggested.
The Emir of Zazzau, Ahmed Bamalli, stated the insecurity within the north stays the bane of Nigeria’s meals disaster. Due to this fact, then FG should deal with insecurity head-on to stabilise the nation.
“We now have made it very clear to him [President Tinubu] that the principle drawback on this nation, particularly the north, is insecurity.
“If the safety state of affairs is addressed, actually individuals will return to their farms, and the difficulty of starvation will drastically scale back and disappear,” stated Bamalli.
The Emir revealed that the normal rulers had been anxious in regards to the protests as they may shut down the nation.
He argued, “No person will likely be anxious in regards to the protest. We now have seen what has occurred in different climes, and governments have been introduced down.
“As an ex-diplomat, I’ve seen what occurred in different climes, and that’s the reason I’m within the place to say what occurred elsewhere.”
He urged Nigerians to “train persistence and to hearken to the phrases of knowledge. We’re very optimistic Nigeria will bounce again to its former place because the main nation in Africa.