The Governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, has urged organizers and stakeholders involved in the planned nationwide protest on August 1 to ensure that the state remains free of violence during the civic exercise.
In a statement released by the State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, on Tuesday, the governor made this plea during a meeting with protest organizers, civil society organizations, and security agencies at the State Secretariat.
Represented by his Deputy, Kola Adewusi, at the meeting, Adeleke highlighted that while protests are a constitutional right of citizens, any actions that could disrupt the peace and harmony of the state and its people are unacceptable.
He stressed the importance of maintaining peace and unity in Osun state during the upcoming protests, emphasizing his administration’s dedication to making Osun a model for other states in Nigeria.
He said, “I, therefore, implore you to be law-abiding before, during, and after the coming nationwide protests, as my administration in Osun State will not entertain any act of violence of any kind while carrying out your protests.”
During the meeting, both the Osun State Commissioner of Police, Mr Umar Abba, and the General Officer Commanding the Engineering Construction Regiment, Ede, Brigadier General Abdul Kareem Aliyu, emphasized the importance of protesters maintaining decorum throughout the protest.
In his opening speech, Mr Alimi denied the accusation that the purpose of the meeting was to provide funds to organizers in order to undermine the effectiveness of the protest.
He stated that Governor Adeleke initiated the dialogue to ensure that the planned protests were conducted peacefully and without any form of disorder or lawlessness in the State.
Alimi noted that the governor emphasized that his administration would not tolerate any violent acts.
