Yoruba Global Council Pleads for Suspension of Protest, Advocates Peaceful DialogueYoruba Global Council Pleads for Suspension of Protest, Advocates Peaceful Dialogue The Yoruba Global Council (YGC), a global socio-cultural organization, has urged Nigerians to cancel their planned nationwide protest against “bad governance,” scheduled for August 1, 2024. In a virtual meeting held on July 28, 2024, the YGC expressed its concern that the protest could disrupt government activities at a crucial time. While acknowledging the right to peaceful protest, the organization appealed to Nigerians to give the government more time to implement reforms. The YGC reminded Nigerians of the negative consequences of past protests, such as the looting and vandalism during the #EndSARS protests. It warned against the potential for violence and urged citizens to prioritize dialogue and constructive engagement. The organization also advised the government of President Bola Tinubu to prioritize policies that directly benefit the masses. It commended Tinubu’s efforts to promote financial autonomy for local governments and suggested seminars to educate local government chairmen on good governance practices. The YGC emphasized the importance of giving President Tinubu time to implement changes, acknowledging that “Rome was not built in a day.” It called for patience, nonviolence, and a concerted effort to address the challenges facing Nigeria. The statement concluded with a call for confidence in the current government and an exhortation to Nigerians to refrain from being swayed by external influences.
The Yoruba Global Council (YGC), a Yoruba socio-cultural organization based in the diaspora, has appealed to Nigerians to call off their upcoming nationwide protest, dubbed “EndBadGovernance”, scheduled to commence on August 1, 2024. This was done during their monthly meeting held virtually on Sunday, July 28, 2024, where over sixty members from Europe, North America, Africa and Asia were well represented.
A press statement jointly signed and made available to the media by Prince Segun Akanni, the group’s Secretary General, and Otunba Tunji Akinyele, Yoruba Global Council’s Director of Mobilization and Public Engagement, said that while peaceful protest is a civil and constitutional right and a tool for citizens to demand better governance, this threatening protest appears to be disrupting government activities at a delicate time.
Therefore, YGC is appealing to Nigerians and those preparing for the protest to give the government more time to implement changes and strive for a greater Nigeria.
The group reminded Nigerians of the negative effects of protests, especially the events that occurred during the ‘EndSars’ protest. They highlighted how some unscrupulous elements took advantage of the situation to loot personal property and vandalize government assets, such as the torching of BRT buses in Lagos and the destruction of many government infrastructures across the country. To avoid the recurrence of such events, YGC urges Nigerians to reconsider their proposed protest.
YGC reiterated that while protest is a constitutional right, it must remain peaceful. They warned that starting a conflict is easy, but managing its aftermath is challenging, citing the ongoing situation in Kenya as an example, where initially peaceful demonstrations escalated into violence, leading to calls for government intervention to restore normalcy.
“We respectfully call on Nigerians to engage in dialogue and encourage government to engage stakeholders such as traditional leaders, religious leaders, political leaders and prominent personalities in robust discussion to end the ongoing hardships Nigerians are facing. Development can only thrive in a peaceful environment. Let us all stand united and collectively address the prevailing economic hardships Nigeria is facing.
More efforts and measures must be taken to improve the current situation of Nigerians. We believe that President Tinubu is committed to continued reforms and that he should be supported by all well-meaning Nigerians, both at home and in the diaspora. The group said.
Furthermore, YGC advised the government of President Bola Tinubu to prioritize policies that will have a positive impact on the masses. They commended Tinubu’s bold moves on the decision to fight for the financial autonomy of local governments in the country and urged him to allow INEC to conduct local government elections instead of state governments.
The group also recommends that seminars be organised for all the 774 local government chairmen in Abuja, where the President will educate them on integrity, dedication and commitment to national development and warn them against mismanagement of public funds.
The group stressed the importance of local governments as the level of government closest to the people and urged them to make Nigeria proud.
Finally, YGC called for confidence in the current government, reminding citizens that “Rome was not built in a day” and that the system has deteriorated significantly. They urged Nigerians to give President Tinubu more time to implement changes, stressing that the current hardships are global and not unique to Nigeria. The group called for patience and nonviolence, and encouraged citizens not to be swayed by external influences.
God bless Nigeria!
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