By Ismail Azeez, Osogbo.
Osun state governor, Gboyaga Oyetola, has expressed displeasure over the outcome of EndSars protest that led to looting despite the economy transformation of the government in the state.
He said the government is working assiduously to urgently fashion out ways of not only catering for the interest of the young people in governance but also ensuring their active inclusion in the development process.
Oyetola disclosed this on Wednesday at the programme organized by the state government tagged “Osun EndSars Aftermath Stakeholders Engagement” in Osogbo.
He said, Osun was not supposed to witness the unfortunate violence and looting spree that attended the EndSars protest in view of the efforts and programmes put in place to the fortune of the state around.
He maintained that the EndSars protest has certainly awoken the youths to their civic power, charging them to convert the power to positive advantage.
The governor further stated that the protest is legitimate right of the citizens, saying there are clearly two issues involved in EndSars protesters on legitimate protests and criminal who looted government property and private businesses in the state.
He added that his administration led has took drastic measure by set up a judicial panel of inquiry to get justice for all victims of police brutality in the state.
According to him, “The EndSars is a metaphor for a repetition and a re-engineering of our Article of most peaceful State in Nigeria. We remain so despite the flashes of crises occasioned by the challenging insecurity issues in the nation.
“The #EndSars protest stated peaceful in Osun. As a government, we responded swiftly by deploying a powerful government delegation led by the Secretary to the State Government to identify with them at the Government House, Osogbo. As a responsible government, we promised to relay their demand to the President and ensure that the demand were met.
“Clearly, the Osun experience was anything but EndSars protest. To show it was beyond EndSars even after known faces of the protest were bent on going ahead with another round of protest.
“The EndSars protesters who were on a legitimate protest. They are the main reason for this meeting.
“Within two years after came into office, we have delivered adequate and quality services, project and programmes across the state in a manner that will sustain the peace in the state, transform the economy, industrialise the state, provide jobs for the people especially the youth and provide security and welfare for the people.
Oyetola however responded to some issues raised promised to continue with town meeting to have views of the youths and stakeholders in the state.
Similarly, the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba AbdulRasheed Akanbi called on the youth in the state to him whenever the need arise to protest any acts of injustice in Nigeria.
Oluwo said he was ready to lead the youth in any genuine protest as a way to make their demands get to the authorities concerned.
He said the best way to organise protest and make it work is to have the leadership that can sit down with the government in a dialogue.
