Nationwide Protest: Express your grievances with caution-Sanwo-Olu warns

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has issued a warning to citi­zens planning nationwide protests, urging them to exercise their constitution­al rights to freely express their grievances with cau­tion.

Sanwo-Olu acknowl­edged their right to ex­press concerns about the country’s socio-economic situation but stated that the government remained open to dialogue to resolve the citizens’ complaints.

The Governor advised those who were offended to refrain from divisive utterances and actions that could endanger the country’s safety and peace, noting that those issuing threats had ulterior mo­tives that bordered on law­lessness.

Sanwo-Olu spoke while receiving courtesy visitors from the House of Repre­sentatives Committee on Public Assets and Special Duties, chaired by Hon. Ademorin Kuye.

The Governor stated that the administration led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was committed to using dialogue to peaceful­ly resolve citizens’ griev­ances and that the govern­ment would not rule out ongoing engagement with aggrieved parties in the interests of stability and democratic governance.

“We are at a point in the country where there have been agitations and people are planning national protests. We all understand what the Con­stitution says about citi­zens’ rights and legitimate concerns.

“As leaders, we believe it is critical to acknowl­edge those concerns, but it is also critical that those who wish to protest demon­strate sincerity in their ac­tions by ensuring that the protests do not become po­litical platforms. All kinds of statements and rhetoric should not be tolerated. We do not need all of these.

“The country has been put on a new path by the current administration, which is less than 15 months old. The govern­ment can turn the coun­try’s economic fortunes around.

“We are using any means of engagement to inform our citizens that, while they are free to express their grievances and de­mand better service, they must understand that the government is already lis­tening to their grievances.”