The Governor of Oyo State, Engineer Seyi Makinde, said on Tuesday that the ongoing protest across the country is a wake-up call for Nigerian leaders to put things in order.
Makinde stated this during a visit to the palace of the Soun of Ogbomosoland, Oba Oladunni Oyewumi Ajagungbade III, which was attacked by protesters on Sunday.
He added that unless governments at all levels quickly address the challenges facing the country, including that of youth unemployment, the protests, which he described as the outcome of pent-up anger, might continue.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, indicated that the governor visited the Soun, the families of the slain Isiaka Jimoh and others who lost their lives during the #ENDSARS protests in Ogbomoso at the weekend.
The governor also assessed the level of damage done to the historic palace.
The palace was vandalised by irate youths during a visit to the monarch by the Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr. Sunday Dare, on Sunday.
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He said, “Let me also say that this is a wakeup call for us. As leaders, we must ensure that we quickly look at how to make most of our youths engaged, otherwise, this will definitely continue,” the governor said.
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Makinde approved N100 million to the Soun of Ogbomoso for the renovation of the palace. He promised to work with the families of the slain individuals to cushion the effects of the losses of their loved ones. He also gave N1 million each to the families of the deceased.
The governor explained that beyond the #ENDSARS protest, most Nigerians have become frustrated over prevailing harsh economic reality in the country.
He explained that while his government is not against peaceful protests, protesters must be responsible enough to voice their concerns peacefully.
He promised that the state government would work more at ensuring that youths in the state are meaningfully engaged.
On steps already taken to ensure that sanity returns to Ogbomoso and that protesters are secured, the governor said, “I have deployed Operation Burst in here and asked the Police, who are the object of all of these attacks, to stay at the back until we are able to engage everybody and have a path to a lasting peace, not only in Ogbomoso, but across the state.
“So, I am deeply sorry for this act. We will engage the people. In some of the engagements, which started two days ago, we have seen positive results and we now know some of the ring leaders and we are engaging them.
“They should know that the money we are spending on the renovation of the palace could have been used for something else in the town. So, we have to explain to them that their protests must be peaceful.
“If we say we want to spend N100 million on palliatives, some of them and their parents may get out of it. But this is where we are and it is a wake-up call for us.
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Unemployment for our youths is a time-bomb. All of us who are here today could not sleep well when we heard about what happened in the palace.”
In his response, the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Ajagungbade III, appreciated the governor’s visit, urging those in government to wake up to their responsibilities.
He assured that the traditional institution would continue to play its role in supporting the government for a better society.
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