Lagos Assembly appeals to youths over planned protest, urges Governor Sanwo-Olu on stakeholder engagement

*The Lagos State House of Assembly urges Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to take major steps to avert the planned nationwide protest through stakeholder engagement across the state

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

The Lagos State House of Assembly (LSHA) Thursday, July 25, 2024, held a plenary session calling on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to take major steps to avert the planned nationwide protest in the state.

The state 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.

The legislators urged Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State to organise town hall meetings with major stakeholders to fashion out ways to calm the youths and those who plan to support the proposed protest in the cosmopolitan state in Nigeria.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State

Eromosele Ebhomele, Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to Speakers of the Assembly, Thursday stated 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.

The statement noted the second meeting should be held with traditional rulers, religious leaders, heads of market, those in the transport sectors, and related stakeholders.

Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Mudashiru Obasa, Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, said it was necessary for state governments to do the needful to calm frayed nerves and ensure protection of lives and property in their respective states.

Obasa stressed that Lagos is still grappling with the impact of the EndSARS protest, as he appealed to the youths to be patient with the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

According to him, President Tinubu is making effort at ensuring a better Nigeria benefit the citizens.

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

He commended CP Adegoke Fayoade, Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, for meeting with community heads over the planned protest.

Obasa, therefore, advocated an urgent meeting with all leaders, including religious, traditional, and related organisations in the state for discussions that help to dissuade the youth from engaging in the proposed protest.

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

Adams stated: “I want to plead with our people to shelve this protest.”

The LSHA legislator said President Tinubu had shown that he is ready to listen to the citizens, especially as he recently raised the National Minimum Wage from N30,000 to N70,000.

Hon. Kehinde Joseph, also a member of the Lagos Assembly, expressed worry that the proposed protesters do not have leaders who can be discussed with.

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

In his contribution, Hon. Sa’ad Olumoh opined that President Tinubu understands the problem in Nigeria, and he is taking the right steps against the country’s collapse.

The lawmaker also urged Nigerians to start focusing on governors because federal allocations to states have increased 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, noted the statement.