Oba Dr Munirudeen Adesola Lawal, Laminisi 1st, the TImi of Ede land has said that there cannot be any justification for the use of gun on harmless and genuine protesters nationwide.
Oba Laminisi, who is also the President of Ede Traditional Council said this in a communique from the Royal Court obtained by AMILOADED in reaction to the killings in the country over the ENDSARS protest.
“I was alarmed to see that Leaders in Government have become soft targets of attempted murder by these hijackers. I sympathise with the affected Government Leaders and thank God that evil was averted. However, there cannot be any justification for the torrents of gun barrels against harmless and genuine protesters nationwide,” said Oba Laminisi.
According to him, the protest in its reverberation has echoed a statement and underscores the fact that as Leaders, adherence must be made to the yearnings of their subject across all categories of leadership especially with the Government.
He added that the long standings days and nights of the youths in their peaceful mode especially during the initial commencement of the protest is noteworthy.
“Seeing protesters handing welfare handouts such as foods and drinks to the police themselves during their protest gave an impression that our young people are not crazy but are just ambitious to see the Nigeria of their dream,” he stated,
He added that as a Traditional leader and as a father he is concerned about the recent turn of events in the protest.
“I, as a Parent and Father in Yoruba land feel deeply concerned at the latest turn of events with the engagement of Army of occupation everywhere in Nigeria.
“I hold dearly that the best form of leadership is participatory democracy where dialogues and engagements as well as diverse expression are constitutionally guaranteed rights of the Citizens. Any attempt to frustrate the youths for making lawful demands may spell unfortunate situation that may be very difficult to handle on the hand of the constituted authorities,”
He further noted.
He lamented that miscreants have ceased the opportunity to unleash various forms of irregularities in the Nation while commemorating with the families of all lost soul during the protest.
“I commiserate with the families of those whose lives have been cut short in the avoidable milieu. It is sadly unfortunate that they had to pay the supreme price in the course of wanting to change the ills in our society.
We pray for the repose of their souls and may God grant their families the fortitude to bear the loses,” he stated.
The Traditional Ruler added that Royal Institutions in Yoruba land are already engaging and discussing ways to bring an end to the crisis.
However, he urged the protestants to give an avenue to the government in order to allow them meet their demand while noting that an investigation must be launched into the killings before and during the ENDSARS protest.
While calling for calm, Oba Laminisi said, ‘At this stage, there must not be further destructions for the sake of ourselves. If we destroy Nigeria, we will be the ones to build it again.
It is therefore important that we preserve Nigeria so that a fresher foundation can be laid for the actualisation of our dreams and the germination of all our good demands’.
Leave a Reply