Protest: Ondo LG chairman sues for dialogue to avert crisis

Mrs Toyin Ogungbure-Agbeni, the Caretaker Committee Chairman of Ilaje Local Government Council in Ondo State, has urged youths to shelve their proposed nationwide protest and embrace dialogue with the stakeholders across board.

Ogungbure-Agbeni stated this while addressing some youths, community leaders and residents of the council area on Tuesday in Igbokoda.

She acknowledged the fact that the grievances, frustrations and concerns of the youth over the country’s economic situation were legitimate.

The council chairman, however, noted that protests oftentimes have destructive tendencies, which might also result in criminal acts, such as destruction of government property.

Rather than embarking on protests, she advised the youth to embrace dialogue and negotiations with stakeholders, particularly government, at different levels for way forward on the current economic situation in the country.

While stressing the need for solidarity and collective efforts in addressing national challenges, she reminded citizens of their civic responsibilities, urging them to exercise their rights in a manner that would promote unity and stability.

“I acknowledge the legitimate grievances driving the protests and also recognise the frustration and concerns of the citizens and underscore the importance of addressing these issues transparently and effectively.

“Nevertheless, dialogue and negotiations with necessary stakeholders should be the preferred method and tool for resolving their concerns.

“I encourage the organisers and government officials to engage in open and honest discussions to find common grounds,” she said.

The chairman, however, called on the Federal Government to be proactive in addressing the causes of the protests.

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She emphasised the need for prompt and sincere action from the authorities to prevent the situation from escalating and build trust between government and the people.

Ogungbure-Agbeni added also appealed to community leaders to play crucial roles in mediating and facilitating discussions, highlighting the importance of leadership in guiding the community toward constructive solutions.

She stated that while immediate actions were necessary, it was equally important to focus on long-term solutions to the systemic issues.

The council chairman also urged policy makers to implement reforms that would enhance sustainable development and social justice.