Gbenro Adesina
Following attacks being launched by members of security agencies particularly, Nigeria Army and policemen on protesters, who are demanding an end to Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and Special Weapon Tactical Team (SWAT) as well as seeking immediate restructuring of Nigeria, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, Aje Ogungunniso 1, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately address the nation.
Oba Adetunji stated this today in a statement signed by his spokesperson, Adeola Oloko, saying that such action from the Nigerian security agencies were unnecessary.
The first class monarch while describing the experience of our people over the past two weeks as “very tough” and “most unbearable” believes that only a democratically elected President of Nigeria has the capacity to address the demands of the protesters and possibly put paid to prolonged protest.
He said, “As the father of the nation with avowed commitment to protect lives and properties, including recovering economy, it has become imperative for the President to speak to Nigerians especially, the protesting youths”.
He regretted that thugs and hoodlums who do not understand the significance of the protests are taking undue advantage to cause mayhem and extortion.
The Olubadan urged the youths to embrace dialogue as experience has shown that jaw-jaw is better than war-war, adding that people in government are not living in gilded cage and therefore, could not have been irresponsive to the yearnings and aspirations of the people, as speculated in some quarters.
Oba Adetunji noted that part of the solution lies in reopening of all the universities shut in the wake of Academic Staff Union of Nigeria University (ASUU) strike over the past six months.
While commending the Federal Government for introducing different empowerment programmes like SURE-P, You-Win, N-Power and SPW, Oba Adetunji urged governments at all levels to focus more on training and retraining of our youths to become useful and fit for purpose as our institutions curricular have fallen short of employers’ expectations
Oba Adetunji prayed to God to give our youths the grace to become what God wants them to be despite all odds.
