The Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has warned that the planned October 1 nationwide protest would achieve nothing other than looting and vandalism of public properties.
News reports explains that the organizers of the
FearlessOctober1 protest declared that the police, Department of State Services, and the military would not stop them from embarking on the demonstration.
The National Coordinator of the Take It Back Movement, Juwon Sanyaolu, and Director of Mobilisation of the group, Damilare Adenola, disclosed that the FCT protest would be held at the Eagle Square, while the Lagos protest would take place at the Ikeja Under Bridge.
The organizers stressed that the demonstration is to protest the hardship occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy and the devaluation of the naira.
Abiodun, however, maintained that a constructive dialogue with the government was needed rather than join those fanning the flames of discord.
The governor spoke on Sunday during the Special Church Service commemorating the 64th National Day celebration held at the Cathedral Church of St. Peter, Ake, Abeokuta.
He said: “Let us be resilient, let us continue to pray, let us persevere, and let us hold on to our faith in Almighty God.
“Let us not join those who continue to fan the flames of discord in our land, and those who are calling for protests, violence, and civil disobedience, which only leads to vandalism, looting and destruction of public property.
“Let us engage constructively and work with the government, knowing that this administration is an inclusive one”.
The governor also disclosed that his administration would continue to implement measures to cushion the effects of the present realities, adding that his administration has deployed CNG buses, started energy transition programs with the launching of e-bikes, reduced workdays for civil servants from five to three days, and provided free medical services for the poor and the elderly, among other initiatives.
He pledged that his administration would soon complete its farmers’ markets across the state’s four zones, and that the state government’s Gateway Trading Company, which would sell food at wholesale prices, would soon go into operation.