Hardship: Yoruba in Northern Nigeria, FCT urges constructive engagement rather than Protest

By Samuel Luka

Nigerians, particularly organizers of the planned Nationwide protest against economic hardship have been advised to utilize constructive engagement rather than embarking on what could lead to breakdown of law and order.

The President-General, Yoruba Community in the 19 Northern States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) , Dr Jimpat Aiyelangbe who made the call in a press statement yesterday, urged his members to stay away from what he described as “planned needless” national protest”.

Ayelangbe further called on the Yoruba Community from across the three Northern geopolitical zones and the Federal Capital Territory to stay away from the protest.

“We see it as needless because the government of the day has been the most engaging one since we returned to democracy in 1999. People can only protest against a government that refuses to listen to its citizens”, the President-General explained.

He pointed out that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government has shown that things can only get better by increasing allocations to states.

According to him, under the present administration, no state has indicated that it cannot pay salary and students have started to enjoy the education loans from the government.

The press statement reasoned that the federal government has secured autonomy for the local government, a step that will bring the dividends of democracy to the people at the grassroots and make life better for the masses.

“All these have been achieved just within one year. Do we expect our leaders to become magicians overnight?” We can only know the beginning of a protest but certainly, we cannot know its end”, it said.

Ayelangbe cautioned against any act capable of causing avoidable destruction of lives and properties, adding that many of the people calling for the protest are not even in the country but want the country destroyed or make the masses become poorer.

“We call on our members to tell their children and let them know that Yoruba are people of high intellect and integrity. We think of yesterday, today and tomorrow. Our hosts are also patriotic Nigerians. In fact, they are the very people who still hold Nigeria together. We should demonstrate to them that as a race, we are very profound in thinking and not simplistic”, he said.

According to the release, “We will rather engage our leaders on issues of national importance than resort to wanton destruction of lives and properties just in the name of a mischief called protest.