L-R: Acting Iyaloja General of Kwara State Alhaja Muibat Olumoh; Market Youth Leader General Alhaji Yusuf Soliu; representative of Kwara State Youths Comrade Alli Nasiru Yusuf; State Vice Chairman NURTW Alhaji Wahabi Ajetunmobi; and representative of the RTEAN Mohammed Abdulrasaq; during Youth Stakeholders’ Engagement with government officials, in Ilorin, on Friday.
,,,,Says scars of ENDSARS remain with many businesses, families
By Dada Ahmed.
Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has said the people of the state are very peaceful and thoughtful, and will avoid any action that may disrupt the peace of the state or cause destruction of lives and businesses.
This is contained in a statement signed by Rafiu Ajakaye,
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor in Ilorin and a copy available to The Reporters on Saturday.
“I’m confident that the people of Kwara, whether old or young, understand that challenges of life are not to be tackled through actions that may cause further damage or have negative consequences for themselves, their families, our state, and our country,” the Governor said in a statement.
“Kwarans learn from history. Together as a people, we faced the horror of the ENDSARS protest that some roughnecks used as a smokescreen to loot properties, businesses, and attack innocent citizens. We had to deploy scarce resources to support many of the businesses that were ruined so that no further job losses will be recorded. The scars of ENDSARS still remain with many families today.
“I understand that many of our citizens want faster actions to ease the economic situation. This is a valid concern to which President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and all of us in government continue to respond through multidimensional approaches. However, the worst we can do to ourselves at this time is to adopt any action that may worsen things, especially for businesses or public infrastructure put in place to serve all of us.
“To our young people, social media influencers, and opinion moulders, I urge you to help mobilise for national growth, peace, harmony, improved socioeconomic development, general well-being, and stability. Let us avoid any action that may end in collective regret, loss of lives, or destruction of our common patrimony.
“A protest of any kind, however well-intentioned, may trigger off destructive actions. Let us not give in to whatever temptations to set off our state or country on the path of instability.
“I commend the different stakeholders in the state, including community associations across the state, for mobilising for peace and stability. That is the way to go as our challenges will not disappear when we turn against one another. Our challenges are better discussed and steadily resolved in an atmosphere of peace and stability” the governor said.
Meanwhile, youths in the state have dissociated selves from protest, say dialogue remains key to solving problems*
Youth groups and associations in Kwara State on Friday dissociated themselves from the proposed national protest and demonstration, declaring that the protest will not solve any problem.
The groups, led by Comrade Alli Nasiru Yusuf, said it is agreeable that things are not easy economically in the country and across the universe, but the situation could be salvaged with engagements and dialogues.
“We have expressed our grievances to the Kwara State Government on issues and challenges bothering the youth constituency and other segments of the society in Kwara and Nigeria as a whole.
“We just had the meeting with various groups. Since the government has promised to progressively address some of our grievances, we are saying no protest in Kwara State,” he told reporters in Ilorin shortly after meeting some government officials.
Present at the briefing were representatives of Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN); National Association of Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN); National Association of Students Union (NASU); Tricycle Owners Association of Nigeria (TOAN); Okada Rider Association of Nigeria (ORAN); and Marketers Association of Nigeria (MAN); among others.
Top government officials who had earlier met with the groups include the Commissioner for Youth Development, Hon Ndanusa Sheu Usman; General Manager, Kwara State Social Investment Programme (KWASSIP), Dr Abdulwasiu Olayinka Tejidini; and Permanent Secretary Ministry of Youth Development, Alhaji Abdulrazaq Alabere; among others.
Yusuf noted that it is obvious that Nigerians were facing a lot of challenges, especially in this present economic hardship, but violence or protest could not be the solution.
He said:”It is obvious that Nigerians are facing a lot of hardship presently which Kwarans are not excluded from. We agree with the fact that things are not easy, but we believe that you don’t attack violence with violence. There are ways of settling issues rather than violence or protest.
“Therefore, all the groups and associations present here today now agree that we will embark on consultation and dialogue with the state government rather than going for protest. We have agreed that we will not go on protest. We have had a meeting with government officials and our meeting continues.
“I want to pledge that the name of Kwara State will not be changed from being a state of harmony and a peaceful state, and the peace will continue to reign. In protest, a lot of issues happen and it is youth that suffer the consequences most. Some lives have been lost to protests, while properties have also been lost because people will hijack protest.”
The representative of NANS, Zone C, Comrade Adebayo Abdulkadir Alasa assured that student bodies under the zone would not be part of any protest.
“We have expressed our grievances to the government and we are very optimistic that the states (under their zone) will address all the challenges. We want to assert clearly that we dissociate ourselves from joining any protest in the nation,” Alasa said.
