THE Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, urged aggrieved youths today to postpone the upcoming #EndBadGovernance protests scheduled for August, requesting them to allow the Federal Government more time to address the struggling economy.
The first-class monarch characterized the economic challenges facing Nigeria as a “global phenomenon” and emphasized that the administration of President Bola Tinubu should be given the opportunity to rectify the inflationary issues.
“The concerns are genuine; there is significant suffering in the country, but this is not unique to Nigeria; it is a global issue,” Oba Ogunwusi stated during an interview today, shortly after meeting with traditional rulers from the Southern region.
“We must urge the protesters to grant the Federal Government a bit more time to make corrections, as this is a worldwide situation.”
While acknowledging the right to protest, he warned against damaging public and private property during the demonstrations, noting that such actions would ultimately harm the very people involved.
The planned protests against economic difficulties, which is gaining momentum on social media, is set to take place in every state of the Federation and in the nation’s capital, Abuja, in August.
In recent months, the prices of food and essential goods have skyrocketed as Nigerians face one of the country’s worst inflation rates and economic crises, largely due to the government’s dual policies of removing petrol subsidies and unifying foreign exchange rates.
Authorities, including the police, military, and the Department of State Services, have cautioned against protests similar to those in Kenya.
Politicians have expressed concerns that the upcoming rallies could mirror the EndSARS demonstrations of October 2020 and have continued to urge youths to reconsider their plans.
However, the youths remain resolute, insisting that the protests will proceed as planned.