Massive protest Tuesday erupted at GTBank situated along Asero area of Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital over naira scarcity, disrupting human and vehicular activities, as protesters blocked roads access.
The protesters, who had placards bearing different inscriptions, vowed to continue their agitation indefinitely.
Also, at the Sapon axis in the state capital, a burn fire was seen at the main road leading to the palace of the paramount ruler of Egbaland, Oba Aremu Gbadebo, preventing free vehicular activities.
Meanwhile, operatives from the Nigerian Army, Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps were deployed to forestall any form of breakdown of law and order.
Following the uproar, Governor Dapo Abiodun has called on the protesters to allow the outcome of his engagement with the Bankers Forum and the Central Bank of Nigeria to yield fruits.
Abiodun, who made this known during the statutory meeting of the council of Obas, held at the Oba’s complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, noted that the CBN was doing its best to arrest the situation.
The governor said the matter was being discussed at the highest level with both President Muhammadu Buhari and the CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, in the quest to resolve the crisis.
Governor Abiodun further said it is disheartening to see bank buildings being vandalised and people resorting to violence to register their displeasure.
“We shouldn’t allow our state to descend to that level. We are a peaceful and peace-loving people and the safest state in the country. I want to use this medium to plead with our youths that when there is a problem, the solution is not to hit the streets and to start protest marches; we cannot solve a problem with another problem.
“Civil disobedience will rather exacerbate the anguish in the land. Let us stay away from avoidable loss of lives and properties. Please, let us embrace peace. We are a very peaceful state; we are very orderly and we have spent a lot of time and energy to invest in the peace and security of our people. We must eschew provocation that could lead to a breakdown of law and order.”
