Osun CSO, Youth Groups Withdraw From National Protest

…”We’re opposed to protest that will impose chaos

…challenge Gov Adeleke to account for accrued revenues so far

The World Institute for Peace (WIP), a Civil Society Organisation, and concerned Youths in Osun have raised looming danger ahead and withdrawn from the planned national protest in the state, describing it as premeditated and one orchestrated to wreck havoc and cause irredeemable hardship in the land.

WIP and Jongo Farmers Nigeria, a clusters of youth farmers, acknowledged the fundamental rights of citizens to peaceful protest and demonstration but hinged their withdrawal on the planned protest on general interest as they recalled ugly incidence that caused massive destruction of life and properties which came on the ills of the hijacked 2020 Endsars protest in the country.

The concerned citizens noted that the fragile national economy could not withstand an organic protest at the moment, saying “we are opposed to protest that will impose further hunger, complicate the already challenged and emasculated economy.”

This is just as the peace advocates challenged the incumbent Governor, Sen. Ademola Adeleke to justify over N50billion grants and over N200billion Federal Allocations accrued to the state as well as different palliative supports received from the federal government in the last one-and-half year.

The organisations at a Press Conference held at the State Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Center Osogbo by the Executive Director WIP Lamina Omotoyosi and Comrade Tajudeen Azeez, Director General of Jongo Farmers Nigeria, said the groups deliberately opposed violent ethnic and politically motivated protest and propose dialogue to address economic hardship in the country.

The groups urged the citizens to be vigilant just as they warned unsuspected members of the public against arson and destruction of properties.

Omotoyosi while reading the press text of WIP said “as a stakeholder, we can not afford to experience the previous massive destruction of life and properties that came on the ills of the hijacked EndSARS protest of 2020.

“Having regard the above developments and dangerous trend, we want to announce our withdrawal from the planned protest scheduled to start tomorrow, Thursday, August 1, 2024. This withdrawal will affect our youth and student peace advocates cells across Nigeria, and most especially Osun State, the cradle of South West.

“For avoidance of doubt, we are committed to the fundamental human rights as enshrined in Chapter Four of Nigerian 1999 Constitution as amended, Africa Charter on Human and Peoples Right and United Nation Declaration on Human Rights that guarantee rights to protest and freedom of assembly; but we are opposed to any form of protest that will impose further hunger and complicate the already challenged and emasculated economy.

“Our own position is peaceful and lawful protest that will draw the attention and force the government at all levels to the current economic crisis facing over 200 million Nigerians by addressing the skyrocketing inflation, high fuel price and expensive food commodities which is the responsibility of all levels of governments, private sector and Nigeria business communities.

“We are totally opposed to protest calling for the end of Nigeria and elimination of constitution. Our demand is that the President must as matter of urgency address the issue of local refinery to reduce fuel pump price, eliminate artificial scarcity and work hard to crash the inflation. The government must also accelerate efforts to reduce the food scarcity which is the primary source of hardship in Nigeria.

“We also challenge the state Governors, particularly the Osun State Government led by Governor Ademola Nurudeen Ademola Jackson to justify the over N50billion grants and over N200billion federal allocations accrued to the state in the last one year as well as for palliatives received from federal government just as he should enumerate to the people of Osun the state government’s plans and efforts to improve food production. All tiers of government must take responsibility for this hardship at this moment”, Omotoyosi stated.

DG Jongo Farmers Nigeria, Comrade Tajudeen Azeez while answering questions from journalist urged Nigeria youths to channel their efforts towards farming saying the federal government is doing a lot intervention on agriculture.

According to him, the federal government has allocated 18,000 unit of fertilizer to the state urging the youths to show interest on how the fertilizer is being distributed and how they can benefit from the scheme adding that the better way end hunger is massive youth involvement in agriculture.