THE Executive Chairman of the Igando-Ikotun LCDA, Comrade Akinsanya Lasisi Ayinde, and community leaders have expressed their support for the Tinubu-led administration while calling on the youths to shun violent protest.
Addressing the crowd during a stakeholders meeting at the council Secretariat on Monday, July 29, 2024, Akinsanya cautioned against violent protests, this is as he called for peaceful dialogue among citizens and stakeholders.
He said, “Violent protests and demonstrations only lead to further division and destruction. They hinder our progress as a nation and undermine the efforts of those striving for positive change. Instead, let us peacefully conduct ourselves, respecting the rights and dignity of every individual. Our actions today will shape the Nigeria of tomorrow, and it is our responsibility to ensure that we leave behind a legacy of peace and unity for the younger generations.
“Violent protests undermine the very causes they seek to advance, eroding public support and escalating harm to innocent individuals. The core of effective advocacy lies in peaceful, constructive dialogue, not in aggression and destruction. Violence often shifts the focus away from the legitimate grievances being voiced, creating opportunities for opponents to discredit and dismiss the movement.”
On his part, Oba HRM Azeez Gbadabiu, the Asiwaju of Ikotun Kingdom, urged families to dissuade their children from resorting to violent protests, stating “Dialogue is better than protest. He emphasised that all the Obas in Awori Land are against any form of protest in Igando-Ikotun communities.
“We should tell ourselves, our children at home, and our family members that there is nothing like protest in our communities, it is not good and we won't support it. Recall the one they did before where they destroyed so many of our public assets. Do not allow your children to be used by some people who give them money to go and start fighting and destroying things,'' said Oba Ikotun.
Akinsanya also stated that business owners who had stores which were burnt and burgled during the EndSARS protests are yet to recover from the huge losses they incurred.
"So please let us talk to ourselves. There is nothing like a protest in Lagos State because the Government is making us proud. They are making us proud. The State Government is doing us well and for the one in the centre, they just came into office. Before you say a Government has not done well, you have to allow them to spend at least three years in office,'' he noted.
In attendance was the Vice-Chairman, Secretary to Local Government, Legislative Arm, Executives, Management, Oba Onigando, Oba Onikotun, Oba Alakesan, Oba Onijegun, Baale Oko Oke, Area M Commander, Igando DPO, Ikotun DPO, Isheri Oshun DPO, CDC, CAN, League of Imams, traditionalists, artisans, NURTW members, market men and women, youth association, and securities agencies, among others.