Ekiti state Governor, Biodun Oyebanji has urged those planning to participate in the nationwide protest over the current hardship in the country not to disturb others that are moving round for their daily duties.
In an early morning broadcast on Wednesday, the governor pointed out that “It is therefore expected that a protest will be conducted under a peaceful atmosphere without recourse to any violent disturbances to other citizens who also enjoy their inalienable right to unhindered movement and life.”
Oyebanji expressed reservation that those behind the protest ought to have first sought for dialogue and engage appropriate authorities on their areas of concern.
“It is the least expected that before any protest of this magnitude would take place, the concerned persons would have sought to dialogue and engage with the appropriate authorities on their areas of concern.
“This is the hallmark of democratic practice globally. Protest should not be first and only channel of engagement.
“As a Government, therefore, while we are not averse to free expression of opinions and displeasures over socio economic issues, we sincerely believe it should be after due consideration of the overall security implications of such a protest.”
On effort of the administration to make the citizens comfortable the governor said he has encouraged regular interaction with the people
“In Ekiti, our Government has always accorded you the people all the respect and dignity befitting of citizens and we have always engaged with you through different channels of communication that we have created including direct interaction with Ekiti people from time to time.
“As a result, we are well acquainted with your daily difficulties in the face of this current economic challenges that affect everyone, including government institutions which is a global phenomenon.
“While protest is a legitimate way of addressing the attention of the authorities to the challenges that citizens face, we must be honest to acknowledge that protest, violence and disruption in the economic life of our country at a time like this can be counter productive.
“Everything is being done to re-set the economy to productivity through different fiscal and monetary measures that are already showing early indication of success and we cannot afford a roll back of the present gains.
“As a people, we cannot also afford another expensive destruction of our economic base as we did in 2020 during the #EndSARS protest that led to the destruction of many private and government infrastructures.
“Multimillion naira businesses were completely ruined and the owners destroyed forever. Till today, the Ekiti State Emergency Management Agency’s store room and other government institutions remain in ruins because of the arson and looting that were visited on the State by retrogressive elements masquerading as protesters.
“Many of our silos which serve as national strategic reservoirs for food and seedlings were burnt, looted and vandalized. Government is still struggling with replacing or repairing these infrastructures, even in the face of scarce resources.”
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