Sequence to the Upcoming Nationwide Planned protest which aimed to Kickstart on the 1st of August, 2024, It is a fact that Nigeria and Nigerians are going through hard and trying times.
It is also fact that government can do much more to better the suffering of the citizenry.
It’s true there have been plenty of complaints by the citizenry about the hardship they are facing, and the need for government at all levels to find solutions to the frustrating situation.
Yet, we do not subscribe to the alleged planned protest against the federal government.
It is true that protests are fundamental rights, if properly managed, but this is very unlikely going by the way the ‘endsars’ protest was hijacked and the ensuing chaos that followed.
In addition, we also remember how destruction of our basic infrastructure was orchestrated by unpatriotic “foreigner” through radio directives.
We therefore dissociate the OPC (New Era) from the planned protest and warn that the planners should take their protest to Abuja, the seat of the federal government they have a grouse with.
Our group warns against any rally being carried out anywhere within the Southwest region as the brunt of destruction that follows in its wake is borne by ordinary citizens.
Any plan to stage a protest anywhere within Yorubaland will be quashed by any means necessary; and that is a promise.
Granted that the aggrieved have the fundamental right to protest, it is also our fundamental right and duty as patriots, to counter-protest and to secure our basic infrastructure from destruction in the name of protesting.
We will not sit down and fold our arms while some faceless cowards ruin the relative peace we enjoy in the southwest. We will as well also not let them destroy the valuable infrastructure we dearly need, and which have been put in place by government, all in the name of protesting.
Furthermore, It is still fresh in our memories how infrastructure put in place for the citizenry were looted and destroyed by these unpatriotic elements. Brand new BRT busses looted and other facilities, including new state of the art health facilities were completely razed all over Lagos state, with one coward orchestrating the destruction via radio directives.
As the ‘endsars’ protest spiraled out of control, having been hijacked by hoodlum, hapless citizens became targets of attacks, intimidation, and robberies all over with phones, jewelries and other valuables stolen from them in broad day light.
However, It is also incumbent on the government (and we call them out) to react positively to the cries of the embattled citizens.
Government, particularly at the centre need to do more to meet the yearnings and aspiration of the citizens.
To show compassion and that they mean well, government must accede to the demands of organized labour to pay living wages to Nigerian workers who have sacrificed and continue more than enough for the country.
Government must bring down the cost of governance by cutting down the size of governance and the bureaucracy. Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA) of government must be reduced and reorganized to function more efficiently, and for non-unelected public officials who serve as a drain on our scarce resources to be reduced to the barest minimum.
Government must put a stop to the resort to distribution of palliatives, as these do not reach the common man, but is instead looted and diverted by government officials put in charge of its distribution.
Rather, government should put in place a distribution structure where citizens can buy products at affordable prices.
This will ensure that commodities reach the people, and the prices regulated, rather than be stolen or cornered by officials in charge of their distribution.
We once again warn those who want to unleash chaos that, WE ARE ETERNALLY VIGILANT.
