Lagos Assembly Pleads With Youth Over Planned Protest

• asks Sanwo-Olu to organise stakeholders’ meeting

The Lagos State House of Assembly on Thursday held a plenary session calling on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to take major steps to avert the planned nationwide protest in the State.

The lawmakers, in a ‘Matter of Urgent Public Importance’ brought by Majority Leader Noheem Adams, noted the devastation caused by the EndSARS protest of 2020 in Lagos and urged the governor to organise townhall meetings with major stakeholders to fashion out ways to calm the youth and those who plan to support proposed protest.

One of the meetings, according to the motion of the House, should be held between the governor and elected political leaders including senators, members of the House of Representatives and state lawmakers while a second meeting should be held with traditional rulers, religious leaders, heads of market, those in the transport sectors and related stakeholders.

Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, said it was necessary for state governments to do the needful to calm frayed nerves and ensure protection of lives and property.

Dr. Obasa said Lagos was still grappling with the impact of the EndSARS protest just as he appealed to the youth to be patient with the government of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu that is making effort to see a better Nigeria that would benefit the citizens.

The Speaker noted that Kenya is currently in a terrible situation adding that the crises in Sudan and Syria started in the same manner.

He commended the commissioner of police in Lagos, Adegoke Fayoade, for meeting with community heads over the planned protest.

Obasa called for an urgent meeting with all leaders, including religious, traditional and related organisations in the state for discussion that would help dissuade the youth from engaging in the protest.

Earlier in his motion, Hon. Adams (Eti-Osa 1) drew the attention of his colleagues to the planned protest.

“I want to plead with our people to shelve this protest,” he said noting that President Tinubu had shown that he is ready to listen to the citizens, especially as he has raised the minimum wage from N30,000 to N70,000.

On his part, Hon. Kehinde Joseph expressed worry that the proposed protesters do not have leaders who can be discussed with.

He urged for patience stressing that whatever is happening in the country “affects us all.”

Hon. Sa’ad Olumoh said President Tinubu understands the problem in Nigeria and was taking the right steps against the country’s collapse.

He also urged Nigerians to start focusing on governors because federal allocations to states have grown under the President.

Other lawmakers who spoke during the debates urged parents to persuade their wards from joining the protest or allowing themselves to be used to commit crimes.