Ekiti Monarchs Appeal to Citizens to Shun Nationwide Protest, Embrace Dialogue.

Ekiti Monarchs Appeal to Citizens to Shun Nationwide Protest, Embrace Dialogue.                By Olamide Akinwumi 

The Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers has urged citizens to avoid participating in the planned nationwide protest and instead engage in constructive dialogue. The appeal was made during the Council's monthly statutory meeting on Tuesday, where state and national security issues were among the key topics of discussion.

HRM Oba Ayorinde Ilori-Faboro Ajiboyede III, the Olojudo of Ido-Ekiti; and chairman of Ekiti Council of Traditional Rulers.

In a communique signed by HRM Oba Ayorinde Ilori-Faboro Ajiboyede III, the Olojudo of Ido-Ekiti and chairman of the Ekiti Council of Traditional Rulers, the Council expressed deep concern over the planned protest, tagged #NationalDayofRage, scheduled for August 1. The monarchs highlighted the potential security implications for Ekiti State and Nigeria at large.

"We recall with sadness the result of a similar protest that took place in October 2020 and the destruction and carnage that ensued from such a protest," the communique read. "While we recognize the right of Nigerians to peaceful protest, it’s the view of the Council that a call to protest of this nature is a potential invitation to chaos and instability, as witnessed in 2020."

The Council appealed to all Ekiti indigenes both within the state and across Nigeria to avoid participating in the protest and to instead engage with the government at all levels through productive dialogue. They emphasized that many of the issues being demanded cannot be resolved instantaneously.

Furthermore, the traditional rulers commended the government's efforts to address the nation's economic and food challenges. They called for an acceleration of policy actions to further tackle these issues and appealed to the Ekiti State Government and security agencies to ensure the preservation of peace and tranquility in the state.

"We appeal to the Ekiti State Government and the security agencies to do everything possible to ensure nothing compromises the current peace and tranquility of Ekiti State," the communique concluded.