As discontent grows across Nigeria, Hon. Opeyemi Adunni Akindele, the APC Chairman of Mosan Okunola LCDA and Lagos State Women Leader of The Mandate Movement, has urged citizens to embrace dialogue over protest.
Akindele, in a statement on Tuesday, deeply sympathized with the citizens facing challenges as a result of the ongoing reforms in the country and called for caution.
“Protests are the legitimate right of every citizen, but why now?” Akindele questioned. “We have a listening president who has the love of the nation at heart. The people should embrace dialogue and not protest.”
She stated that since the inception of President Tinubu’s administration, significant strides have been made in revamping the economy.
She pointed out that the progress achieved thus far underscores Asiwaju’s commitment to the nation’s well-being.
“Protests are not the answer to the current crisis facing the nation,” Akindele asserted.
She reminded Nigerians of the devastating aftermath of the EndSARS protest, where numerous police stations were burnt, police officers were beheaded, and there was a jailbreak that freed hardened criminals in Lagos, Benin, and Abuja prisons. Critical infrastructure owned by the Lagos State Government was destroyed, and the notable television station, TVC, was razed.
“It is difficult to forget how a large number of luxury buses meant to power public transportation in Lagos were burnt and left to ruins. Multi-million dollar investments were destroyed.
“Such was the level of the destruction, the carnage, the investments gone in flames, the trauma, and the uncertainty engendered by the EndSARS protest,” she lamented.
Akindele cautioned against a repeat of such carnage in Lagos and other parts of the country, urging the protesters and their sponsors to embrace dialogue.
She urged the women, as mothers and builders of the nation, to plead with their children to shun the protest, as it is not what we need at this point in our nation, and to embrace dialogue.
She called for unity and a collective effort to support President Tinubu’s administration, advocating for constructive dialogue as the means to address grievances and build a stronger, more resilient nation.
