Lay out your grievances, Oba of Lagos urges Avengers

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9 years ago

The monarch of Lagos, Oba Riliwan Akiolu I, has called on members of the militant group, the Nigeria Delta Avengers, to sheathe their swords and lay all their grievances on the table rather than engage in criminal activities capable of further increasing the woes of the nation.

The monarch made this known on Saturday during the celebration of the Isese Festival in Isale Eko area of Lagos Island, where he also urged Nigerians to exercise more patience in spite of the hard times in the country, assuring them that very soon all would be well.

He stressed that bombings and other deleterious activities currently being perpetuated and largely attributed to the Niger Delta Avengers would further worsen the socio-economic problems the country had found itself, saying that rather than engage in such activities, members of the militant group should put their grievances on the table for the government to address.

“I want to use this medium to appeal to the Niger Delta Avengers to give peace a chance. I agree to some extent with them that certain things have to be done for them, but they just have to give peace a chance and things will work for them. They should stop and put their grievances on the table and the government will address it. It is not too late to mend,” Oba Akiolu said.

The monarch, who is also an ex-police officer, further restated his faith in the President Mohammadu Buhari-led administration to turn the fortunes of the nation around for good, saying the present hardship in the country was a precursor of a better tomorrow.

“I am confident that the economy of the country, under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, will change for good because our president is focused,’’ Akiolu told journalists in his palace. “Let us cooperate with the government. Do not take laws into your hands and always inform the security agencies wherever there are criminal activities,’’ the royal father added.

Meanwhile, when commenting on the Isese Festival, Akiolu described it as an inherited custom and tradition which he would never joke with.