31st July 2024, NewsOrient
News, Governance And Development, Law And Society

The Osun State Government has held a peaceful meeting with proposed #EndBadGovernance protesters with a view to curtailing an unforeseen crisis that might emanate during the protest coming up on August 1st.

A press statement signed by Goke Awoyemi, Press Secretary, Osun State Deputy Governor, said the “meeting was held at State Secretariat, Abere where there was an array of top government functionaries headed by the Deputy Governor of Osun State, Prince Kola Adewusi, Service Chiefs, security personnel from various security outfits, various civil societies as well as different groups of youths among the rest.

Speaking at the meeting on behalf of the State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, the Deputy Governor, Prince Kola Adewusi, harped on peaceful protest as a vital key to convey grievances and demands from authorities which eventually will lead to potential reforms.

According to him, peaceful protest is a fundamental right and a crucial tool for driving positive change.

He therefore admonished the prospective protesters to do away with any nefarious activity that may mar the positive result that the protest will be meant for.

In his earlier speech, the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Barr. Kolapo Alimi, saluted all the comrades and activists present at the meeting for the response and show of genuine concerns to have an itch free protest in Osun State, saying government called the meeting to dialogue on modality to follow in having peaceful protest in Osun as against the backdrop mischievously misinterpreted by some quarters as way of buying conscience of the prospective protesters.

Also in his earlier statement, the Osun State Commissioner for Police, CP Umar Abba Muhammed gave kudos to the Osun State Governor for his swift response to this sensitive issue of protest saying that the Governor’s action towards having a peaceful protest in Osun will go a long way in making the State maintain its leading position as most peaceful State in the comity of States in Nigeria.

CP Umar Abba Muhammed however, called on the prospective protesters to act within the premise of law through having a defined routes and avoid miscreants to uproar the protest in their quest to make their grievances known to the concerned authorities.

Also speaking during the meeting was, Brig Gen. Aliyu Abdul Karim, Commander ECC Ede and the Director DSS Ayoola Kehinde in which the duo emphasized the need for whoever wants to participate in the proposed peaceful protest to align with the dictation of law and the right to peaceful protest.

Brig Gen Aliyu Abdul Karim in his own statement therefore, acknowledged the fact that Osun is one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria and the State cannot afford to deviate from this virtue and as result he said, the protesters should conduct themselves peacefully in line with law.

In his own remarks, Bar. Samuel Ojo, Special Adviser to Governor on Security, appreciated all the stakeholders involved during the meeting for being vanguard of peace.

He said, Osun State Government is not resting her oars in making sure peaceful coexistence is always ensured in the State.

He therefore enjoined the youths in the State to toe line of peace in the forthcoming protest.

All the different groups of youth representatives who spoke during the meeting consensually assured the State government of being law abiding youths in the State who will do everything possible to have an itch free protest on August 1st as scheduled.

They therefore called on security personnel to safeguide protesters during the protest as against being used as an instrument of oppression and intimidation,” Goke Awoyemi said.

Photo Caption: From right, Commissioner at commission for boundary adjustment, Rtd. Justice kunle Adeigbe, Commissioner for Youth development, Mr Olagunju, Deputy Governor, Prince Kola Adewusi, Secretary to Osun State Government, Alhaji Teslim Igbalaye & Commissioner for Justice & Attorney-General, Mr Wole Bada at the peace meeting with service chiefs and # end bad governance protesters on Monday at the State Secretariat, Abere.

~ NewsOrient