The Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) has asked President Bola Tinubu to put in place more pragmatic, practical and visible ways to ease the pains and general hardship Nigerians presently contended with.
At an emergency meeting of the YCE National Executive Council (YCE) held in Ibadan, the elders said the call became expedient as hardship faced by Nigerians continues to get deeper while their suffering gets sharper.
The elders particularly decried the attendant unbearable consequences faced by masses as a result of increase in price of petrol, cost of transportation and price of foodstuffs.
The meeting resolutions contained in a statement by its Secretary-General, Oladipo Oyewole, decried the unbearable suffering faced by Nigerians.
Though it expressed belief in the management abilities and capabilities of the present.
Federal Government administration, the YCE said it had become more expedient than ever for the federal government to implement more practical ways to alleviate the suffering of Nigerians.
This is as the council added that the results of the belt tightening that Nigerians should not be in vain.
On the situation in Niger Republic, the YCE admonished the Tinubu administration to handle the situation with high level diplomatic measures to forestall any action which may escalate into a situation of a war that may consume the West Coast of Africa.
The statement read: ”Rising from an Emergency Meeting on August 10, 2023, the Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) affirms its total support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“However, Council observes that the suffering in Nigeria at this time is getting sharper and hardship is getting deeper among the Masses. The cost of Petrol has increased, cost of transportation and cost of foodstuffs have gone up.
“Whilst associating fully with the management abilities and capabilities of the present Federal Government administration it is of concern to YCE that the Federal Government of Nigeria should put in place more pragmatic, practical and visible ways of easing the pains and general hardship which Nigerians are presently contending with.
“We see a good outcome for the tightening of belt in Nigeria as it were whilst we call for effective management and monitoring such that our people would not have suffered for nothing.
“Council also observes that the Socio-cultural right of Yoruba people in Kwara State is being contained, marginalized and unduly infringed upon. The Newspaper publication of the Emir of Ilorin and his emissaries has caused worries for the Yoruba Council of Elders.
“Accordingly, Council posits that every Nigerian should continue to enjoy the freedom of Religious Worship as entrenched in the existing Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999).
“We stand firm that the Kwara Emirate should allow tradition and Socio-Cultural activities to exist and thrive for those who choose to worship God in that mode.
“Therefore, Yoruba Council of Elders stand (for reprieve) with the Priestess and the accredited Lead Worshipper (Yeye Osun) who are presently being denied their rights of mode of worship.
“The Yoruba Council of Elders stand firm in the resolve that the situation in Niger should be pursued and addressed with high level Diplomatic measures to forestall any action which may escalate into a situation of a war that may consume the West Coast of Africa.”
READ ALSO FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
and then