The President-General of the Yoruba Community in the 19 Northern States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Dr Jimpat Aiyelangbe, has called on his members to stay away from the planned “needless” nationwide protest against bad governance.
Jimpat Ayelangbe, who made the call in a press release issued and signed by him and made available to journalists on Saturday, called on the Yoruba community from across the three northern geopolitical subregions and the Federal Capital Territory to stay away from any point of the protest.
According to him, “We see it as needless because the government of the day has been the most engaging one since we returned to democracy in 1999. People can only protest against a government that refuses to listen to its citizens.”
He stressed that “this government has shown that things can only get better by increasing allocations to states. No state has said it cannot pay salaries since the coming of this government. Students have started to enjoy the education loans from the government.”
The release added that “the government has secured autonomy for the local government, a step that will bring the dividends of democracy to people at the grassroots and make life better for the masses. All these have been achieved in just one year. Do we expect our leaders to become magicians overnight?”
The community lamented that “we can only know the beginning of a protest, but certainly, we cannot know its end. Let us not cause any avoidable destruction of lives and properties. Many of those who call for the protest are not even in the country. But they want you to destroy the few things you enjoy and become poorer.”
“We call on our members to tell their children and let them know that Yoruba are people of high intellect and integrity. We think of yesterday, today, and tomorrow,” he added.
According to him, “Our hosts are also patriotic Nigerians. In fact, they are the very people who still hold Nigeria together. We should demonstrate to them that, as a race, we are very profound in thinking and not simplistic.”
According to the release, “We will rather engage our leaders on issues of national importance than resort to wanton destruction of lives and properties just in the name of a mischief called protest.
The release concluded that “we implore the opposition to take the path of robust engagement with the government. It is only through this that there can be a country to govern in the future. May the Almighty God continue to bring succour to our sufferings in this country.”
Also, “May we overcome our challenges in His mighty name. May He deal with those who have the intention to cause chaos in the country accordingly.”
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