PROTEST: Embrace Peaceful Dialogue, Shun Violence, Adelabu Charges Youths
•By Suliah Awojoodu, Ibadan
IBADAN – Chief Bayo Adelabu, the Honourable Minister of Power has charged youth across the country to embrace peaceful dialogue instead of addressing their concerns over the hardship in the country through rallies or protest that can result to violence and damages of properties in the country.
Adelabu made this appeal at Bayo Adelabu Foundation House, Jericho, Ibadan, Oyo State Capital, while addressing participants of the Oyo State Youth Stakeholders Engagement forum tagged “Connecting With The Youth”.
RELATED POSTS
Stop Cursing Power Sector, There’s Power In The Tongue-Amb. Idris Busari Pleads Ahead For Adelabu
The engagement forum that was co-hosted by Chief Bayo Adelabu and the Special Assistant to the President on Youth Initiatives (Monitoring and Delivery) Ms Titilope Gbadamosi had in attendance youth across the 33 local government areas of Oyo State.
Adelabu who was ably represented at the gathering by the Former Deputy National Youth Leader of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Hon Bolaji Afeez Repete appealed to Nigerian Youths to exercise patience with the current administration under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu and support the government’s efforts in reforming the economy of the country.
Chief Adelabu noted that it is the right of every citizens to protest over any bad governance or any system that is not working, but they must be very careful about it.
He stressed that it has been confirmed that there are some bad elements who are faceless that are sponsoring the planned nationwide August 1st protest, he warned the youth not to join the faceless and unverified sponsors on the planned protest.
He maintained that the so called sponsors of the Ill-timed protest want to stage the nationwide rallies for their own selfish interests and in order to cause violence, damages to both government and individuals properties which will further worsen the situation of things in the country.
Adelabu noted that the sponsors of the August 1st nationwide protest are some individuals that based in abroad with ulterior motives to cause chaos and anarchy in the country for their political gains. The Minister of Power however urged the youths to express their concerns through peaceful dialogue.
He said, “We all know that there is hunger and crisis in the country, this is due to the inflation which is not peculiar to our country alone, it’s happening everywhere around the world, but I can assure you that our President is not resting, he has been running up and down, traveling round the world, inviting foreign investors and he’s also working towards ensuring that the country’s economy is fixed.
ALSO READ
NANS Lauds Adelabu’s Efforts Towards Actualizing Efficiency, Transformative Power Sector
“We need to give the President some times, very soon we will begin to see the results of his efforts in our economy. There is going to be more jobs for our youths, and as a Minister of Power very soon you will see the total change in the power sector, I’m also working tirelessly to ensure that we have adequate power supply in the country, for now you can all see that there is drastic changes in the sector, very soon, you will see the results of our efforts, this will also boost our economy’s potentials, please let’s wait for few more months, it will happen, and we will all see it and feel it.” He said.
In her remarks, the Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Youth Initiatives, (Monitoring and Delivery) Ms Titilope Gbadamosi, highlighted some incentives the federal government under President Tinubu has on ground for the masses, especially the youth to cushion the effects of the economic hardship.
She urged youths to tap into all the laudable initiatives of the federal government by making life more meaningful for themselves.
She said, “Youths need to take advantage of the job opportunities the present administration is rolling out for their benefits in order to curb youthful restiveness. All what they need is to apply for the job opportunities and other incentives, I can assure you if you apply, you will be shortlisted among the beneficiaries.”
Titilope noted that some youth are found of wasting their time on the social media instead of making good use of it.
“Some youth will be criticizing the government on the social media instead of them to start making use of their time to apply online for all the incentives the federal government are currently doing, majority of these incentives, including the job opportunities are online but they will not apply, and you cannot continue criticizing the government when you are not taking the advantage of all the government initiatives that are available online to help the yourself.
“I am using this medium to urge the young people of Oyo State and other part of the country to engage government through constructive criticism and modest communication channel, they should start get involved in government by participating and identifying with government processes, they should be a responsible citizens, and establish a very constructive channels of communication with the government. I’m into monitoring and delivering of whatever incentives the federal government has for the youths and I know what I’m talking about, people have started tapping into these opportunities and they’re making good use of it, so our youths should start making use of their time while they’re online and stop criticizing the government as if the government is doing nothing.”
“I have been traveling to several parts of the country to sensitize our youths on the federal government incentives and job opportunities that are online, I’m here to go speak to some that are not actively online, I know that not all our youths are actively online, the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led government is open to dialogue. So, instead of protest, I’m urging our youth to shun violence, protest and embrace peaceful dialogue so we can all enjoy the progressive nation we are yearning for.” Titilope said.
Also in his remarks, the Oyo State All Progressives Congress Youth Leader, Prince John Aremu, said that Nigerians need to give the administration of President Bola Tinubu more time to deliver on its promises.
ALSO READ
Ibadan Mogajis, CCII, Baales, Market Leaders, Others Condemn Planned Nationwide Hunger Protest
He appealed to Nigerian youths to utilize the student loan and Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) initiatives introduced by the present administration to escape the shackles of joblessness.
The Arewa Youth leader across the 33 local governments of Oyo state, Malam Yasir Ibrahim, said that Arewa youths in Ibadan and Oyo State at large are not participating in any form of protest.