Amidst apprehension trailing the nationwide #EndBadGovernance protest slated for August 1, a member of the House of Representatives, Engr. Aderemi Oseni, has called on Nigerians to exercise patience and maintain peace in the interest of the nation.
Oseni, who represents Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency of Oyo State and chairs the House Committee on the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), expressed concerns about potential violence during the protest.
In a statement released over the weekend by his media aide, Idowu Ayodele, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, Oseni acknowledged the genuine concerns of the protesters but emphasised the need for calm for the overall stability of the nation.
“I understand your concerns. However, it is essential to give President Bola Ahmed Tinubu more time to address the economic challenges and steer the nation toward recovery,” he said.
He warned that criminal elements who do not share the demonstrators’ genuine concerns might exploit the situation to incite violence, which could have severe consequences for national stability.
“The risk of some people hijacking this protest to cause harm is real,” the lawmaker cautioned.
“Such actions could undermine our efforts to foster peace and stability. We must all work together to prevent this.”
The APC chieftain further encouraged Nigerians to seek dialogue, noting that the current administration, led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is actively working with relevant stakeholders to alleviate the hardship facing the country.
“Dialogue remains our best path forward. President Tinubu is barely a year into office now. I appeal that we give him time to correct the abnormalities of the past and remember that at the end of every tunnel, there will be light. The government is committed to addressing these issues, and I urge everyone to support peaceful measures while it works towards solutions,” Oseni remarked.