In what looked like a post-mortem of the EndSARS protest in some parts of the country, traditional rulers from the South-west Sunday took turns to speak up on what ‘went wrong’ in the nation’s political setting.
The monarchs spoke at the South-west Governors Forum meeting at the State House, Lagos.
Also at the meeting were the Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari and ministers from the region.
The royal fathers expressed their angst at the manner politicians turned politics into money- induced venture at the expense of the interest of the youths.
More than any other thing, they said the high rate of unemployment among youths caused the agitation in the EndSARS protest, which was largely staged in the South-west.
While lamenting the level of destruction in Lagos, the monarchs said the state was the worst hit.
Leading monarchs who spoke at the meeting were Ooni of Ife Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, Alaafin of Oyo Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, Oba of Lagos Rilwan Akiolu and Oluigbo of Ugbo Oba Akinruntan Obateru.
Speaking at the occasion, the Ooni said: “The governors have taken the right steps with this meeting. However, they have been far away from we monarchs. You should not wait till election days before you reach out to us. This type of meeting should come regularly. We know the good and the bad in our communities but we are under-utilised.”
Also speaking, the Alaafin said the destruction had put the region in a complex situation, just as he said the governors were hindered by the present administrative system of the country.
“It is a complex and complicated matter. Our children are jobless and many are hungry. The problems are too much for the states. The states are not independent. The structure we run in Nigeria cannot allow state governors to do much for their states,” the monarch said.
In his remarks, Oba Akiolu said the joblessness among youth in Lagos was principally responsible for the mayhem, blaming politicians for the woes.
“The truth is very bitter. Majority of the problems are caused by politicians. The power with the federal government is too much. The security architecture of the country needs to be restructured. The problem we have in Lagos is security and unemployment. The youths have to be looked after. What happened is pure case of security breach. The entire system needs Reformation,” Akiolu said.
Similarly, Oba Obateru advised the Inspector General of Police Mohammed Abubakar Adamu to conduct detailed investigation into the incident and fish out those behind the protest.
He said: “What happened is beyond EndSARS protest. We have some clergy behind them. Find out who are the people behind them. This is the time to reach out to the monarchs. If you don’t treat this matter well, the youths will come out again.”
Resolutions
In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, the leaders called for a review of the constitutional conferences, including the 2014 national confab reports.
The communiqué signed by the Oba Ogunwusi and Ondo state Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, the leaders also demanded the implementation of some of the recommendations of the conferences, especially on security, economy and equal treatment for all citizens in the country.
While commending the federal government for its responsiveness to the initial demands of the #EndSARS campaigners and the firm handling of the aftermaths of the protest, the meeting called for an adjustment of the country’s security architecture to adequately address the threats and realities of insecurity in the country.
“There is a need to undertake preventive actions aimed at preventing a repeat of what happened in the country following the #EndSARS demonstrations. Security needs to be strengthened in all states.
“We wish to encourage the Nigeria Police Force by responding to their needs and appeal to them to do more to protect lives and properties and enhance security all over the country.
“We call for specific measures and proposals to repair the damage done to the physical infrastructure and economic assets of the South-West,” they said.
The leaders also charged the federal government to review the prolonged closure of the country’s borders, noting that the development had caused economic difficulties for people of the region.
“The border closure should be re-examined to alleviate problems of the people in the border communities and prices of some essential commodities.
“There is need to review the closure and permit resumption of economic and trading activities,” the communiqué further added.
