Adebayo Adenrele
…urges them to checkmate fifth columnists
As the proposed 10 days nationwide protests being spearheaded by coalition of youth groups begin today across Nigeria, a raking member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Bamisile, has enjoined Ekiti youths to embrace dialogue being olive branch spread to them by Governor Biodun Oyebanji.
The former Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, said dialogue could have been the best option to explore before embarking on the nationwide protests, saying there would still be imperative of stakeholders coming to the roundtable after the 10 days of public procession.
Bamisile posited that peaceful protest remains an inalienable right of all Nigerians, but warned Ekiti youths against joining the fifth columnists to destroy public infrastructures, or unleash terror on perceived political opponents in the course of the 10 days public action.
The representative of the Ekiti South Federal Constituency 2, gave the admonition in the wake of the nationwide strike through a statement released in Ado Ekiti, on Thursday.
Bamisile saluted Governor Oyebanji for his prompt statewide broadcast, where he expressed willingness to engage the youths and address areas of interest that can complement the actions being taken by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to buffer the effect of the hard biting economy on the citizens.
He warned that the youths will end up gaining nothing in engaging in public disobedience and disorderliness that can immerse Ekiti into unwarranted conflagration, urging them to be civil in actions and dispositions as the protest proceeds.
“Let me appeal to the youths of Ekiti State, especially those from my constituency to rethink of having a destructive protest that can reverse the progress being made. This protest should be made to be a corrective one, not destructive.
“If we are saying Nigeria is not making the right progress, it will amount to disservice for youths to take action that would further cause damage to the system. Our actions should be that will promote development and not reversing Ekiti to the abyss of underdevelopment through wanton destruction of property.
“Governor Biodun Oyebanji had expressed open hands and readiness to dialogue with you, embrace this option to save us from the burdens of crisis and destruction that often accompany a protest of this nature”.
Bamisile urged the youths to be vigilant to prevent those he described as “merchants of evil” from hijacking the process to wreak havoc on the State.
“If you are determined to proceed on this protest, please, be conscious of the activities of evil doers who may want to hide under the facade of protest to unleash terror on perceived political opponents.
“Allowing such to happen may blight your collective integrity and cause serious damage to your reputation as youths. Adhere strictly to the global standard of public procession to convey a strong message of hope that you are really on a path of nation building”.