Oghene Egoh, a former member of the House of Representatives, has urged youths in Lagos to reconsider the planned protest against the economic hardship in the nation.
Egoh, during a press briefing in Lagos on Tuesday, recalled how shops were looted, and government properties were destroyed during the 2020 #EndSARS protest against police brutality.
The former lawmaker warned that such events must not reoccur again.
Egoh expressed his concerns regarding the potential for the protest to be hijacked by individuals with malicious intent, leading to violence and the unnecessary loss of lives.
Egoh, who served as the representative for Amuwo-Odofin (Lagos) in the National Assembly for two consecutive terms, cautioned that while citizens have the right to voice their dissent against certain government actions, it is imperative for the organizers to seek alternative methods to address the country’s issues in a manner that promotes peace.
He encouraged the Nigerian populace to exercise patience in the current administration of President Bola Tinubu’s efforts to rectify the situation.
“Majority of the shops and properties in Lagos, owned by the Igbos and people of other tribes, were looted, and many properties were lost during the protests.
“Many people participated in the #EndSARS protests just to loot and destroy.
“During the protests, more than 200 BRT buses were burnt to ashes in Lagos. At the end of the day, it was the common man that suffered the consequences. That should not be allowed to happen again,”
Egoh noted.
He called upon Nigerians to remain indoors and recommended that parents and guardians instruct their children and dependents to stay at home during the protest.
Egoh expressed that Tinubu is deeply committed to the advancement of the nation, asserting that his various reforms aim to improve the lives of the populace.
He acknowledged that the nation is currently experiencing a challenging phase, emphasizing that a single year is insufficient for any administration to address the existing issues.
Egoh pointed out that the food crisis in the country has been exacerbated by continuous assaults on agricultural lands by bandits in the northern region, as well as by flooding and other severe impacts of climate change.
Nevertheless, he urged governments at all tiers to initiate extensive mechanized farming efforts to alleviate hunger within the nation.
The former legislator, who recently defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), also urged the government to lower import duties on food products to enhance their affordability.
