The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, on Wednesday said traditional rulers in Nigeria would mediate between the federal government and the youths protesting against police brutality via #EndSARS.
The monarch said the sad event that happened at the Lekki Tollgate in Lagos on Tuesday night where armed soldiers were alleged to have shot unarmed young protesters was highly disheartening and regrettable.
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Oba Ogunwisi who spoke through his media aide, Moses Olafare said the decision of the authorities to protect public facilities was necessary but should not include military engagement on the armless protesting youths.
“Tension has risen on both sides. It is time to calm down and allow traditional rulers, as fathers of the nation to lead the way to peace and restoration of trust. We must find amicable solutions even though this Lekki Toll Gate attack has regrettably eroded the trust needed to establish dialogue and ensure a civic process for resolving the crises. We must not be tired.” Ooni said.
He said the deployment of armed military personnel in clearly civil protests ought not to be encouraged until all peaceful avenues have been fully exhausted, saying such pre-emptive strikes can only worsen an already combustible situation.
Ooni, who is the Co-chairman of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN), urged the government to make the soldiers involved in the dastardly attack face wrath of the law.
The monarch also said, “Our children are on the streets rather than checking out because they believe in the future of Nigeria and that our system is flexible enough to adapt to changes for better performance.
“Their generation was nurtured with the values of efficiency, transparency, accountability and value chains. These are the noble values they seek to inject into our polity so that our country can realise its potential as a world power.
“We need to manage the process of listening to them and working with them to jointly arrive at the new Nigeria of our collective dreams, a dream that President Muhammadu Buhari has recognised as a statesman and our president.”
While praying for the souls of those who have died across the country and quick healing for the wounded, the Ooni called for calm on all fronts in order not to aggravate the already tense atmosphere across the country.
Etsu Nupe Sues for Peace
Similarly, the NCTRN, in a statement signed by the Chairman, Coordinating Committee, His Royal Highness, Alh (Dr.) Yahaya Abubakar, Etsu Nupe, noted that the germane demands of the protesters and calls on them to give peace a chance so that the government could properly address the issues.
“More so, as the protest have clearly been hijacked by criminal and subversive elements and are assuming critically dangerous dimensions.
“Similarly, the Council appeals to the government to fast track the resolution of all the relevant issues to restore normalcy and allow the country to face the gargantuan efforts to reviving the national economy which suffered the ravages of the global COVID-19 pandemic like all other economies.
“We also called on the security agencies to avoid acts of impunity and always remember the rules of engagements and ensure adequate protection of lives and properties.” the statement read.
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