Nigerian traditional rulers have called on the government to dialogue with youths across the country in resolving important issues.
The traditional rulers, under the aegis of the Nigerian Council of Traditional Rulers, said the recent EndSARD protests was meant for good governance until hoodlums hijacked it to become a free-for-all violence.
Their position was made known on Wednesday when its delegation paid a solidarity visit to the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, over the destruction wreaked on the State.
Etsu of Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, who led the delegation to the State House, Marina, said the visit to Lagos – the epicentre of the EndSARS protest – followed the decision reached on the November 3 meeting of the Council jointly chaired by Sultan of Sokoto and Ooni of Ife, noting that the Council was disturbed by the violent attack on traditional institutions and the level of destruction visited on government and privately-owned assets.
The monarch said the nation had learnt both good and harsh lessons in the violence that followed the protests, urging the protesters and political leaders to dialogue.
He said: “We have come here to express our concern about the violent events that erupted from the #EndSARS protests in Lagos and to also put our feelings forward to offer suggestions on the way forward. We acknowledge that there are a lot of shortcomings and misgivings in the system, but misinformation and negative bias that accompanied the agitations fuelled the violence we witnessed.
“We come physically to show our solidarity to the Governor over the losses.” Abubakar said that despite the violence, the Government had not reneged on its promise to grant the five-point demands of the protesters.
This commitment, Etsu of Nupe pointed out, should be seen as an olive branch to the youths to embrace dialogue rather than returning to public protests to press home their demands.
He said: “We urge all Nigerians, especially our youths, to give peace a chance. We all must be committed to peace in this period.”
The Council sympathised with Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, over the attack on his palace, while also commiserating with the police and people who lost their loved ones in the violence across the country.
Governor Sanwo-Olu thanked the traditional rulers for their gesture, assuring them of his administration’s commitment to engage jobless youths in productive ventures.
Others traditional rulers in the delegation include the Olugbo of Ugbo Kingdom, Oba Obateru Akinruntan, Obi of Obi-Orodo Eze Imo, Eze Agunwa Ohiri, Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi, paramount ruler of Nsit Ubium Okin Ibibio, Nteyin Solomon Etuk, Oba of Ikate Elegushi, Oba Saheed Elegushi, and Director General of the National Council of Traditional Rulers, Alhaji Kassim Yawa.