The organisers of the “end bad governance” protest have been urged to abandon their plans and engage in constructive discussions with the Federal Government to prevent a breakdown in law and order.
His Eminence, Alhaji Dawud Makanjuola Akinola, the Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Edo, and Delta States, made this appeal in a statement released to the press in Ibadan on Saturday.
According to Akinola, while the right to protest is enshrined in the Nigerian constitution and most democracies worldwide, caution is necessary when agitation can be hijacked by hoodlums, leading to violence and anarchy.
In his words: “It is an open secret that economic hardship pervades the country, and I empathise with the frustration of most Nigerians. However, I implore the organisers to exercise patience and allow the federal government more time to find lasting solutions to the current economic situation.”
Akinola also called on political office holders to display prudence and transparency in their programmes and activities to ensure rapid economic recovery. He urged the federal government to re-strategize to end banditry, kidnappings, and senseless killings across the country.
Additionally, he advocated for the immediate implementation of the new national minimum wage to improve living conditions for Nigerian workers and provide relief to struggling families.
Akinola concluded by encouraging Islamic and Christian clerics nationwide to continue praying for President Bola Tinubu, state governors, and their teams to ensure swift economic recovery.