Wale Jagun
Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo – Olu, has charged residents of the state to allow peace to prevail after the #EndSARS protest that turned violence with the attendant destruction in the state.
He also urged Lagosians not to allow those that he tagged fifth columnist, derail the peaceful co – existence in the State with spread of fake news and rumours.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Gboyega Akosile said that Gov. Sanwo – Olu gave the charge on Tuesday when the Ministry of Interior, held Stakeholders’ Engagement on Internal Security and Conflict Resolution in Lagos State, with the aimof strengthening peace and security in the aftermath of the destruction that followed the #EndSARS protest.
The Ministry engaged in consultations with the State Government, traditional rulers, civil society groups, religious institutions and youth groups on the need to adopt dialogue as key approach in channeling grievances and resolving conflicts.
The consultative forum, held at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium at the Lagos State Secretariat, Alausa, lkeja, was graced by the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, his Police Affairs counterpart, Maigari Dingyadi, frontline lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, service chiefs in Lagos and representative of Iyaloja General, Mrs. Folashade Tinubu-Ojo.
Also, political leaders in the State, members of Community Development Councils (CDCs), and Community Development Associations (CDAs) attended the event
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu set the tone for the discussion, saluting the Federal Government for its commitment to restoring peace in troubled States.
He described the forum as “a deliberate effort” to address causes of crisis and nip violence in the bud.
Sanwo-Olu said that the violence that trailed the #EndSARS protestwas a wake-up call to all citizens of the country and security organisations to be vigilant and collectively move against actions that could undermine the wellbeing and security of Nigeria.
The Governor pleaded with the citizens to allow the seed of peace being sown to germinate, while also stressing the need to re-establish communication link between the Government and the people in order to thwart tendencies of those he dubbed fifth columnists and conspirators spreading misinformation.
“The level of insecurity being experienced across the nation calls for serious concern, considering its implication not only on the socio-economic development and prosperity of our people but also on the unity and territorial integrity of our nation. The importance of an effective strategy for peaceful resolution of conflict cannot be overemphasized.
“We have the opportunity today to share knowledge and ideas that could pre-empt crisis situations through conflict resolution mechanisms.
“That incident through which extensive damage was wrecked on public infrastructure and private businesses, is a wakeup call to all well meaning individuals and organisations that we cannot afford to allow external forces or factors threaten or undermine our wellbeing and security.
“We have to reignite the communication link between government and the people so that fifth columnists or conspiracy theorists will not be able to infiltrate and spread disinformation and misinformation that would jeopardise the future of our country or the opportunities available for our youths to contribute to the greatness of our country”, Sanwo – Olu said.
In his own address, the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, said that the forum was the third stakeholders’ engagement which the Ministry of Interior initiated to strengthen peace across the country.
He said that the Federal Government particularly had a responsibility to deepen peace and reduce conflicts in Lagos, which he described as the cradle of the black race.
The Government’s interest in security, Aregbesola pointed out, is selfish, adding that no development would be achieved in a situation of insecurity.
“The main purpose of the ongoing drive is to create an atmosphere of peace for our development. We may not have attained the most secured state at the moment, we must not take what we have for granted.
“We have a responsibility to deepen peace and reduce conflicts that are peculiar to our nation. This will enable us to bring down the number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) shelters dotting our land.”
Aregbesola also said it was time for the nation to fully harness the physical and intellectual energy of young people, whom he described as “unique demographic”.
