A frontline traditional ruler in Delta State and Ovie of Idjerhe Kingdom, King Obukowho Whiskey, has commended Nigerian youths over their #EndBadGovernance protest just as he “passionately” begged them to suspend the protest and embrace dialogue with the Federal Government saying they have made their point.
“I passionately beg you, my children, to suspend the protest in the interest of our country”, the monarch said in a personally signed statement, copies of which were made available to journalists in Warri, Delta State on Tuesday.
The traditional ruler said, “The core messages of hunger, insecurity, inflation and the noticeable disconnect between the ruling class and the ordinary Nigerian have been well passed, and it’s time for true reflections and frank talk.”
The monarch urged the protesting Nigerian youths to redirect their energy and human resources “towards using dialogue and alternative dispute resolutions to address issues of national interest, as the patriotic desire of mass protest promoters has now been hijacked and serious care is required to come out of this without collateral damages”.
Udurhie however appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, “as a true Democrat and father, to look between the lines and adopt a more people-oriented approach to resolving this national uprising.
“The issue raised should be critically appraised and the needed solutions that can address those issues that are affecting the living standards of ordinary Nigerians should be looked into using the father-and-son relationship approach”, he exhorted.
The statement partly reads, “In the last five days, I have watched and followed the hunger and #EndBadGovernance protests across our motherland with keen interest. The protests have recorded mixed feelings. I commend the protesters who peacefully made their demands to the Nigerian government.
“I am also bewildered to watch the destruction of private and public property by some elements who hijacked the protest to loot our people. I cannot help but conclude that the core messages of hunger, insecurity, inflation, and the noticeable disconnect between the ruling class and the ordinary Nigerian have been well passed, and it’s time for true reflections and frank talk.
“The avoidable deaths and destruction of properties, including outright looting businesses, in the course of the protests in some parts of the country cannot and will not bring needed solutions. But I must commend our young children, who have conducted themselves well during the period of the protest. No doubt, there is hardship on the land. Our people are hungry, but the government has assured us they are doing everything to lift Nigerians out of this present phase.
“We should redirect our energy and human resources towards using dialogue and alternative dispute resolutions to address issues of national interest, as the patriotic desire of mass protest promoters has now been hijacked and serious care is required to come out of this without collateral damages.
“I passionately beg you, my children, to suspend the protest in the interest of our country. Peaceful protest, as enshrined in the nation’s constitution, does not give room for these wanton destructions of private and public properties.
“The President, as a true Democrat and father, should look between the lines and adopt a more people-oriented approach to resolving this national uprising.”
The statement further quoted the King as saying, “The issue raised should be critically appraised, and the needed solutions that can address those issues that are affecting the living standards of ordinary Nigerians should be looked into using the father-and-son relationship approach.
“Let’s look inward and promote things that unite the nation rather than things that divide us. Let peace reign supreme in our land.
“I solemnly call on the government at all levels in the country to urgently design policies and programmes, especially in the areas of security and agriculture, to tackle the nation’s multifaceted problems. The federal government cannot do it alone. The states and local governments must collaborate with the centre irrespective of political linings, to save our motherland.”
