Protest: Delta Monarch Urges Tinubu To Address Disconnect Between Ruling Class, Ordinary Nigerians, Calls For Dialogue

His Majesty, King Obukowho Monday Whiskey, Udurhie 1, the Ovie of Great Idjerhe Kingdom, Delta State, has made a passionate appeal to President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to address the core issues of hunger and the deep disconnect that exists between ordinary Nigerians and the ruling class.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the monarch emphasized the need for collective action towards achieving sustainable peace in Nigeria.

He warned that the country cannot afford another wave of unrest, similar to the #ENDSARS protests, given its current state.

He urged President Tinubu to take decisive action to tackle the core issues facing the nation, ensuring that the voices of ordinary Nigerians are heard and their concerns addressed

While admitting that there hunger in the land, the reverred monarch urged the youth to shelve the planned protest but rather engage the federal government in dialogue, expressing deeply worried that a mass protest at this critical time will not do our dear nation any good but rather, it can lead to further national disorder”.

He maintained that the hunger in the land and growing insecurity across regions “should bother us all, and constructively looking inward will be a better option than resorting to wild protests”.

According to him, “As a revered traditional ruler in this country, I know it is a constitutional right of every Nigerian, as enshrined in our constitution, to protest. I also know there is hunger, insecurity, and unemployment.

Continuing, he said, “But as a veteran journalist and media manager with over three decades of experience, the signals out there clearly indicate that another nationwide protest will plunge this nation into more economic mess and insecurity”.

He said that as a royal father who has been at the forefront of advocating for the creation of jobs, the establishment of companies, revamping the agricultural sector, and the building of a prosperous nation, amongst others, for our Nigerian youths, he know that the demands are germane and are a true reflection of the current economic reality in the country.

“As your father, I earnestly appeal to you all to shelve the planned protest in the interest of our nation, the monarch appealed.

The paramount ruler expressed concern that anything that will further divide the country should be discouraged by the government, which should work out modalities to address the critical hunger in our land.

He urged the federal government to ensure the mass protests cannot and should not be provoked as an option to address the needs of the masses. 

“Peace and dialogue remain the win-win choice over mass protests that can easily be hijacked by the depraved. Let peace and unity reign supreme in our dear land”, he further appealed. 

“Therefore, I wish to appeal to all Nigerian youths, particularly Niger Delta youths, to dialogue with the Federal Government under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu on the basis of national interest”, the monarch urged.