Igbo Apex leader and President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos State, Amb. Dr Solomon Ogbonna Aguene, has urged the Igbo not to participate in the planned protest organized by faceless groups while calling for peace and unity among ethnic groups in the State.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that Chief Aguene stated this at the Ohanaeze Secretariat at James Robinson Street, Surulere area of Lagos, on the heels of the agitation for protests against the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration over economic hardship in Nigeria.
Aguene, who is also the United Nation Peace Ambassador, stated that despite the fact that protest is part of the democratic process, it will not yield the desired result at this critical time that President Tinubu is working tirelessly to revamp the economy.
He revealed that there are some people parading themselves as Igbo and calling for the protest in Lagos adding that the members of the public should know that they are not Igbo and should be disregarded as Ndigbo.
He assured the Lagos State Government and the party leaders in the State that Ndigbo will not participate in the protest and will continue to cooperate with them to maintain peace in the State.
While explaining, Chief Aguene stated that it will not make any sense at this period the Federal Government is looking for ways to revamp the economy for some faceless people to be busy mobilizing people to embark on protest to worsen the situation. He declared that Ndigbo will not participate in such senseless protest in the State and has directed the Ndigbo across the Local Councils in the State not to participate.
Aguene noted that truly the people are suffering due to the economic problems facing the country, but embarking on protest will not achieve the desired results because hoodlums will use the opportunity to destroy lives and property in the State.
He stated that he has been educating Ndigbo and other ethnic groups on why they should not participate in the protest and assured security agencies, State Government, Party leaders and other critical stakeholders that Ndigbo will not participate in the protest in Lagos State.
Ambassador Aguene urged all Nigerians to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and give him time to fix the economy and other challenges facing Nigeria and that all should be patient with the President and his team.
He also urged Ndigbo to continue to support Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration because he has demonstrated leadership qualities and showed that he loves Ndigbo.
He also stated that Ndigbo will continue to support the ruling party in the State and continue to maintain peace while going about their normal businesses across the State.
“President Tinubu just marked one year in office and he needs more time to implement his policies in order to improve on the economic hardship many people are facing in Nigeria” he said.
Aguene also called for peace and unity among the ethnic groups and posited that when there is peace and unity, Nigeria will surmount all economic and security challenges facing it.
The position of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in the State is in line with the position of the Lagos State Government, Commissioner of Police, CP Adegoke Fayoade, and the ruling Party led by President Tinubu, who have also advised against embarking on such protest and embrace dialogue.
Various stakeholders across the Local Council areas had been called upon to educate their people especially the youths in their areas not to participate in the protest because the Police will not allow the destruction of lives and property as was the case during the EndSARS protest, where many properties were destroyed by hoodlums.