Ahead of the August 1, 2024, nationwide planned protest against hardship and bad governance in the country, Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State has called on youths in the country to embrace dialogue with the federal government, News About Nigeria reports.
The governor appealed to the youths to shelve the protest, as the FG was willing to listen to them and dutifully attend to all their concerns.
While addressing a coalition of youth organisations in the state at the governor’s office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital, it is better to embrace dialogue to find lasting solutions to the nation’s problems rather than engage in protests that could cause more harm to the country.
Governor Abiodun said, “And yet again, there are calls for mass protests across the country, and the first thing that agitates one’s mind is, is that the way to present our case to the government? Is that the way to constructively and objectively engage with the government by advertising and planning mass protests? Is there something behind those who are calling for these protests? Is this another plan by those who have tried their luck and have lost? Is this their own way and shortcut to see how to frustrate the government?
“Young men and women, you have no other country than this Nigeria. Let me assure you that I have travelled far and wide. I am sure, like many of you, there is no country in the world where you can walk like your own, that country is Nigeria. There is no other place where nobody will accost you, and you would not challenge that person. There is a Yoruba proverb that says ‘beheading is not the solution for an headache’. If there are issues, let us discuss them, let us find a way around them, let us manage and correct them. Let us not cut off the head or attempt to cut off the head because of a headache. That will amount to decapitation.”
The governor also recounted the tragedy that happened during the 2020 EndSARS protest saying, “I want to remind you that there was EndSARS, when there were protests in different parts of the country, particularly in Lagos, Abuja, and other parts where there were looting, burning and the likes.”
