From Priscilla Ediare, Ado-Ekiti
A stalwart of the All Progressives Congress(APC) and former Commissioner for Works in Ekiti State, Chief Dele Okeya, has appealed to Nigerian youths and the organizers of the planned nationwide hardship protest, to shelve the plan.
Okeya who acknowledged that it is the constitutional right of Nigerians to protest, however, called on them to join President Bola Tinubu in his efforts to reposition the country.
Okeya appealed in a statement he signed and provided to Daily Sun, on Saturday, where he pointed out that the current situation in the country, especially in the areas of security and economy requires concerted efforts.
According to him, the planned protest will not in any way bring about meaningful changes but will only provide an opportunity for hoodlums to unleash terror on law-abiding citizens and also destroy some of the facilities as well as public infrastructures provided by the government with the taxpayers’ money.
The party chieftain who explained that President Tinubu came at a time the Nigerian economy was bleeding and on the verge of total collapse, expressed optimism that Nigeria would soon recover from the present economic woes.
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He appealed to Nigerians to be patient and give the 14-month-old Tinubu administration more time to implement its economic policies and the Renewed Hope Agenda which will bring succour to the generality of Nigerians.
“President Tinubu came at a time that the country is passing through a lot of challenges in all sectors of the economy and we need to give him time to build the nation and correct some of the factors responsible for the problems Nigerians are passing through.
“We do not want avoidable destruction of lives and properties in any part of Nigeria, especially in the Southwest and in Ekiti State in particular.”
The stalwart urged them to sheath their swords in the interest of peace, progress and sustainable economic development, noting that there are unscrupulous elements who will hide under the protests to unleash terror and destruction in communities.
The former commissioner commended the leadership style of the state Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, urging the traditional rulers, chiefs and the people of the state to support the Oyebanji-led administration for meaningful progress and accelerated development of the state.