The organizers of the end hardship protest have been implored to shelve the protest and engage in constructive discussions with the Federal Government in order to guard against break down of law and order noting that the protest could be hijacked by hoodlums which may defeat its purpose.
His Eminence, Alhaji Dawud Makanjuola Akinola, the Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Edo and Delta States who also doubles as Aare Of Ibadanland made this appeal in a release issued and made available to newsmen in Ibadan on Monday.
According to him, the right to protest is guaranteed by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and in most democracies around the world, but in a situation where the agitation can be hijacked by hoodlums which may eventually lead to violence and anarchy, one needs to take caution.
In his words: “It is an open secret that there is economic hardship across the country and I sincerely empathise with the frustration that most Nigerians are passing through but I wish to call on the organizers to exercise more patience and allow the federal government more time to find lasting solutions to the present economic situation” he stated.
Chief Akinola also charged political office holders at all levels to always display high level of prudency and transparency in their official programmes and activities in order to ensure rapid economic recovery for the betterment of the populace.
He, however, charged the federal government to urgently re-strategize in order to put an end to banditry, kidnappings and senseless killings in various parts of the country.
“There is need for immediate implementation of the recently approved new national minimum wage in order to improve the living conditions of Nigerian workers and to also provide relief to struggling families” he added.
He thereafter enjoined both Islamic and Christian Clerics across the country not to relent in their prayers for President Bola Tinubu, the State Governors and their teams so as to ensure quick economic recovery.
