The Osun State Governor, Gboyega Oyetola has been commended for the way and manner he managed to handle his attack, looting and wanton destruction of property that greeted #EndSARS protest in the State.
Led by a former Governor of the State, Chief Bisi Akande, some Osun elders gave the commendation during a solidarity visit to the Governor at the Oke-fia Government House, Osogbo.
The elders described the attack as “unfortunate, unwarranted and alien to the Omoluabi ethos” for which the State is known for.
“We as friends with common concern in the affairs of Osun State are here in solidarity with our Governor… on the fallout of the ENDSARS imbroglio. We sympathise with the Governor over the attack on him by hoodlums who evidently hijacked the protest in Osogbo”
Lending their voices to the youth’s initial agitation to end police brutality and call for its general reform, the elders enjoined the youth to consolidate on their new voices, become agents of change by participating actively in the enquiry and efforts at finding solution.
They however condemned destruction and looting, attacks on security personnel saying they are counter productive.
Against this backdrop, the elders pleaded with business leaders and investors not to be discouraged by the “isolated acts of lawlessness” with a view to creating jobs and offering employment to the youth.
“We again acknowledge the Governor for systematically addressing the 5 for 5 demands of protesters and again appeal to our youths to give dialogue a chance for peaceful resolution of their grievances and demands”.
“These exuberant youngsters remain the pillar and fulcrum of our unity, upon which we can attain greatness having broken national records in sports, science, academics, medicine and other areas of human endeavours” they stated.
Speaking, Governor Oyetola appreciated the elders for the visit, concern and individual phone calls to him after the attack.
The Governor who hinted that someone is still planning to stage another round of protest, warned the youth not to be persuaded to partake as government would not allow any acts of lawlessness.
“We understand that somebody is still planning to stage another round of protest, I hope the security agencies will do the needful. We are not opposed to peaceful protest but when it is accompanied by violence then there are ulterior motives. It is unfortunate that we find ourselves where we are today” he said.
Oyetola used the occasion to clear the air on the alleged hoarding of CACOVID palliative which was looted by hoodlums.
He said a 21 member committee was set up and the government was not involved in how the CACOVID palliative was being distributed.
“CACOVID is a private arrangement to support the issue of lockdown palliative distribution to the citizens generally and they asked us to get a warehouse which we did. Incidentally, the cocoa premises appears to be most suitable” the Governor explained.
“We are talking about 75 trailers… there are components that must be supplied, the major component is rice… We were expecting about 40,000 of 5kg of rice yet to be delivered. There have been series of communication with them through the office of commerce, as I speak, it is yet to be delivered. And they made it mandatory that they must complete the delivery and then flag off before we can distribute”.
“So it is not that the state has prerogative of when to distribute. The owners of the palliative said we most come to the state and then flag off. We, as government, we are constraint not to want to do anything other than in line with what they have stated, it is their own, not our own. That was the situation of palliative”
“There is a clear distinction between the federal government palliative and CACOVID palliative. That of federal government is through the ministry of humanitarian and disaster management and it was distributed immediately I think in May ending or June. CACOVID is a private donor. It is not a deliberate efforts on the part of the committee not to distribute” he added.
Other elders on the solidarity visit were retired General Alani Akinrinade, former Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole and renowned academic, Prof. Olu Aina.
