THE Executive Chairman of the Ayobo-Ipaja Local Council Development Area, Hon. (Chief/Mrs) Bola Shobowale (Yeye), given the planned nationwide protest tagged #EndBadGovernment, has held a stakeholder meeting on peace and security in Ayobo-Ipaja and its environs.
Addressing the stakeholders at the meeting, Yeye Shobowale, in a bid to ensure peace and security of lives and properties of all residents of Ayobo-Ipaja, urged all residents to shun the planned protest by saying "No to Protest, No to Violence" and embracing dialogue towards addressing all matters that will ensure nation-building for the benefits of everyone across the country as she reeled out the dangers of violence and destruction that are likely to occur from the planned protest as seen and experienced at the last protest tagged #EndSARS. She prayed for God's guidance and protection of everyone.
Also addressing the stakeholders, the representative of the Area Commandant, Area 'P' Police Command, appealed to the youth in particular to shelve the idea of joining to participate in the protest, stating that protests held in the past had led to loss of lives and destruction of properties owned by individuals and Governments at all levels. He thus enjoined all stakeholders to do everything humanly possible within their capacity to advise and discourage youths in their respective domains from participating in the planned protest.
Representatives of some non-Yoruba communities in the LCDA present at the meeting, the Hausa, Nd’Igbo and South-South Communities, while commending Yeye Shobowale for her commitment to peace and security in Ayobo-Ipaja, also lend their voices to the matter of discussion stating unequivocally, their stand against the planned protest and declaring supports for the Government.
Other key stakeholders in Ayobo-Ipaja, the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), as well as individuals present at the meeting also declared their stand saying ‘No Protest, No Violence’ and stated that all their members and the young ones had been called to order to disregard the call for participation in the planned protest.
Speaking for and on behalf of the market men and women in Ayobo-Ipaja, the Iyaloja General of Ayobo-Ipaja, Mama Ajike, stated that her members will never participate in any planned protests whatsoever, educating stakeholders, particularly the women on the need to bear and raise their children properly to avoid being turned to machineries and thugs used by the protest planners with ulterior motives.
Also speaking for and on behalf of the Community Development Associations (CDAs) in Ayobo-Ipaja, the Chairman of the Community Development Committee (CDC), Elder Joseph Olokede, declared as an assurance, that as far as all Community Development Associations are concerned on the planned protest, none of the youths across the CDAs will participate in the planned protest as all CDAs' leadership had been informed and sensitised accordingly.
HRM, Oba of Ipaja Kingdom, Kabiyesi Ajani Kolawole Egundupe, in his message to the stakeholders at the meeting, specifically directed to the Nd'Igbo Chairman, the CDC Chairman and the Senior Class Youths present, declared to them all that all hands must be on the deck, stating that, they (himself, the Royal Majesty inclusive), being the leaders of communities with youth prone to likely participating in the planned protest are in this together to discourage their subjects from participating in the planned protest.
Being the Agencies saddled with the responsibility to ensure peace and security, representatives of Nigeria Security & Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), and Directorate of State Security (DSS) present at the meeting also addressed the stakeholders, assuring them of appropriate security throughout the period planned for the protests as they continue to intensify their efforts on intelligence gathering necessary for peace and security at all times.
The interactive peace and security meeting rounded up with a vote of thanks by the Secretary to the Local Government (SLG), Prince Rotimi Akiniyi, thanking the stakeholders for honouring the invitation and wishing them all journey mercy to their various destinations.
