Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke has sent invitations to organisers of planned protests against hardship and bad governance in Nigeria alongside stakeholders from the security and civil societies for a comprehensive dialogue on the state of the economy.
The governor, in his directive contained in a statement issued by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, on Sunday, instructed his team members to reach out to representatives of various civil society groups and student bodies for a dialogue session on governance in the country, especially in Osun.
Stressing the importance of dialogue in state governance, Adeleke requested key commanders of Police and other security services to attend the session where stakeholders will be free to make recommendations on grievances and expected responses from government at all levels.
“I have instructed my team to organise a dialogue session on Monday where stakeholders can jaw-jaw as part of peacemaking in the exercise of constitutional rights. The session will afford parties to list grievances and what they expect the government at all levels to do.
“We will convey outcomes of the session to government leaders from myself to Mr President in Abuja. It will also be an opportunity to tell stakeholders what we are doing as a government to resolve the economic hardship facing our people,” Adeleke was quoted.
While reaffirming his firm belief in the national constitution, rights and liberties enshrined in it, Adeleke preached the need for peace and non-violent actions among which are dialogue sessions slated for Monday.
Meanwhile, the Commandant of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Osun State Command, Michael Adaralewa has called on Nigerians planning to protest, especially the youths in the state to be law-abiding and refrain from vandalising critical national assets in their domains.
Adaralewa who emphasised that protection of the country’s assets is a core mandate of NSCDC called on Area Commanders and Divisional Officers across the state to work in synergy with other sister agencies and ensure that the demonstration is peaceful.
He made this known in a statement issued by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Kehinde Adeleke on Sunday.
The state commandant also assured members of the public of their safety as they go about their legitimate businesses, saying necessary measures have been put in place to forestall any act of breakdown of law and vandalism by miscreants who want to capitalise on the peaceful protest to destroy critical national assets in the state.
