Fifty-seven local council chairmen in Lagos State under the umbrella of Conference 57 have urged Lagos residents to shun the nationwide protest by some Nigerians.
The Chairman of Conference 57, Kolade Alabi, urged the organisers of the protest to reconsider their approach, stating that it does not serve the best interest of the nation.
Alabi, who is the Bariga Council Chairman, advocated for demonstrations based on taking to the ballot rather than protests.
He emphasised that electoral processes offer a more constructive and legitimate means of expressing grievances and driving change.
Alabi re-emphasised President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to the welfare of Nigerians, drawing reference to the latest approval of N70,000 minimum wage for workers and the implementation of financial autonomy for local governments.
He further praised Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s efforts to ensure that various palliatives reach the most vulnerable people in every neighbourhood.
The council chairmen collectively argued that expressing grievances through protests might not yield the desired results. Instead, they advocated for utilising electoral processes to voice discontent and influence governance.
He said: “We are here to appeal to all Lagosians not to allow themselves to be used for any planned protest. All the local governments in Lagos State will not tolerate any form of protest. We appeal to the organisers of the planned protest to reconsider their approach.”
Conference 57 Public Relations Officer Sesan Daini, said such protest is not needed at this time.
Daini said: “Nigerians have voted for a man, who in less than two years is doing all his best to put everything in the right place. Going out to protest at this stage will not support the government, and the electoral value of our people.
“Democratically, there is a way we can express our grievances, we can protest by voting for the people that we think are good. But I’m 100 per cent sure that by the end of the second or third year of this administration, people will not have any reason to protest again, because you would have seen the dividends of democracy and fulfillment of electoral promises.”
Chairman of Ibeju Lekki Local Government, Sesan Olowa, described Tinubu’s government as friendly.
“It’s a government that is ready to address the yearnings of Nigerians. Rome was not built in a day; you do not expect the government to do everything within a year. Nigerians should give him more time and I’m very optimistic he would do well,” he said.
