Delta Monarch Pleads with Nigerian Youths to Heed President Tinubu’s Plea
By Emmanuel Enebeli
IDJERHE/Nigeria: His Majesty King Obukowho Monday Whiskey, PhD, UDURHIE 1, the Ovie of the Great Idjerhe Kingdom, has called on Nigerian youths protesting against bad governance to lay down their arms and heed the plea of President Bola Tinubu.
In a press release made available to Ndokwa Reporters on Tuesday, August 6, 2024, King Whiskey expressed his keen interest in the hunger and #EndBadGovernance protests sweeping across the nation, noting that they have elicited mixed feelings.
“I commend the protesters who peacefully made their demands to the Nigerian government,” he stated.
“However, I am bewildered by the destruction of private and public property by some elements who hijacked the protest to loot our people.”
Reflecting on the situation, he remarked, “I cannot help but conclude that the core messages of hunger, insecurity, inflation, and the noticeable disconnect between the ruling class and the ordinary Nigerian have been well conveyed. It’s time for true reflections and frank talk.”
He lamented the avoidable deaths and destruction of properties, including the outright looting of businesses during the protests. He emphasized that such actions cannot and will not bring the needed solutions.
“I must commend our young children, who have conducted themselves well during the protest. No doubt, there is hardship in the land. Our people are hungry, but the government has assured us they are doing everything to lift Nigerians out of this present phase,” he said.
He urged a shift in focus towards dialogue and alternative dispute resolutions to address national issues, cautioning that the patriotic intent of the protests had been hijacked, necessitating careful navigation to avoid further collateral damage.
“I passionately beg you, my children, to suspend the protest in the interest of our country,” he pleaded.
Calling on President Bola Tinubu to adopt a more people-oriented approach to resolving the national uprising, King Whiskey emphasized that peaceful protest, as enshrined in the nation’s constitution, does not justify the wanton destruction of private and public properties.
“The issues raised should be critically appraised, and the needed solutions that can address those issues affecting the living standards of ordinary Nigerians should be considered using the father-and-son relationship approach,” he added.
He urged Nigerians to promote unity over division and called for peace to reign supreme in the land. He also implored the government at all levels to urgently design policies and programs, particularly in security and agriculture, to tackle the nation’s multifaceted problems.
“The federal government cannot do it alone. The states and local governments must collaborate with the centre irrespective of political alignments, to save our motherland,” he concluded.
