A member of the House of Representatives representing Ekiti North federal constituency 11, Moba/llejemeje/Ido-Osi, Honourable Akinlayo Kolawole Davidson has called on the Nigerian youth to shelve the planned nationwide protest slated against August 1st.
In a statement made available to the newsmen in Ado-Ekiti on Sunday, the federal lawmaker appealed to the aggrieved youth to come to the table and dialogue for the sake of peaceful co-existence.
He admitted that the costs of living are very high but taking to the street to protest may likely be hijacked by some politicians who are still nursing the loss of 2023 elections as a result of their woeful outing.
He said, ” In the history of democracy, violence has never won, and that Nigerian youth are very creative and hardworking and shouldn’t be puns in the hands of some desperate politicians whose sole interest is to instigate violence and set country on fire.
” As long as we have no other country to call ours, we should do our ultmost to preserve the entity called Nigeria. And as giant of Africa, the survival of some African nations depend on either we live or die. As a people, we’ve got to learn from history. In the word of Winston Churchill, he said, “Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it. History never repeats itself.
” Every single historical moment is distinct from those past. However, we must learn from our mistakes so that we do not run the risk of repeating them.
” Therefore, we shouldn’t repeat the mistakes of Endsars. In Lagos alone, government lost over N700b properties that were gratuitously destroyed. Till date, the ruins are still here with us; and should be aware that our present economy is such a fledging one given the removal of the fuel subsidy. Yes, the pains are indescribable but the rewards will be worthwhile in the end. And the removal of the fuel subsidy which costs $10b per year was in the best interest of the hapless Nigerians.
” Expressing displeasure in the form of protest is an inalienable rights of the citizens but the possible hijack of it is the concern of the government.
” Within the few months of President Tinubu’s government, the welfare of the masses has been prioritised by focusing more on agriculture and food security, economy, security, education and healthcare system, women and youth development, transportation and infrastructure.
” As part of the effort to retooling and repositioning Nigeria , the President Tinubu led administration has launched N100b CNG busses; effected Conditional Cash Transfer to one million nano businesses and N75b fund to support manufacturers; launched the National Philanthropy Office(NPO) to mobilise $200m in private investments; established N5b single-digit interest fund in partnership with Sterling bank through Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria(SMEDAN).
” Floated the naira; signed Nigeria Data Protection Law so as to safeguard personal information and provide data protection; approved the takeoff of Consumer Credit Scheme so as to enable Nigerians access goods and services and pay overtime for essential needs like homes, vehicles, education and healthcare; enacted Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, in line with the National Counter Terrorism CentreNTC), the Zero Ransom Policy; distributed 42,000 metric tons and improved mechanisation and empowerment of young Nigerian farmers; injected $2.5b into Basic Health Care Provision Fund; signed the 2023 Electricity Bill into law so as to break the monopoly of electricity generation, distribution and transmission; approved the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Fund of $25bn per year in the areas of infrastructure such as roads, rail, agriculture, ports, and aviation.”
As part of his interventionist programs to make live enjoyable for constituents, the federal lawmaker list few of his achievements within a year in office.
According to him, ” the construction of solar boreholes in Iye Ekiti and Osi Ekiti; facilitated the Conditional Cash Transfer to countless number of hapless constituents; installed hundreds of streetlights in Ire-Akari, Iye, and Eda-Oniyo Ekiti communities; constructed walkways and procured modern health equipment for Otun General Hospital, so as to improve the quality of health service delivery.
” I installed solar street lights at the Oba’s palace and market area in Ido Ekiti; equipped the ICT centers in Ilogbo, Iye, and Otun Ekiti; trained hundreds youths in technology which was done in partnership with Bamidele Olumilua University; obtained over 1000 JAMB forms for helpless candidates; freely paid for the NECO fees of the final year students of Ikosu Comprehensive High School.
” I maintained and graded many cratered and dilapidated township roads; facilitated employment opportunities for qualified youths into juicy government ministries, agencies, and parastatals.
” Over 1500 youths have been trained both in soft and hard skills, with special interest in sustainable future programs like: graduate internship, youth innovative and enterpreneurship development, digital skills and othe ICT services, agribusiness, human capacity development, technical and vocational skills, graphic design, cloud computing, web design, networking, crypto-trading, ethical hack, larva coding, front end development, back end development, product design, software design, product management, data science analysis, shoes and bag making, soap and insecticide making, cake and pastries.
” It is therefore expedient on the part of our great youth to trust President Tinubu and his team as the deliverables will soon here. And again, it is understandable that the waiting period for the lofty policies of President may take sizable time to materialize but the outcome will worth the pains and sacrifices.”
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