An erstwhile governorship aspirant in the Ondo gubernatorial election, Chief Olayide Adelami today called for a ceasefire in the ongoing violence that has trailed the #EndSars protests across the country.
Adelami, in a statement released by his media aide, Rahaman Adekunle Yusuf, expressed regrets that the once peaceful agitation has been hijacked by hoodlums maurading as #EndSars protesters.
He condemned the shooting of peaceful protesters by suspected military operatives at Lekki in Lagos leading to loss of lives and property, and express his heartfelt condolences to the families affected.
“The shooting of peaceful protesters at the Lekki tollgate by men in uniform, as alleged, is barbaric and should be condemned by every Nigerian. My heart goes out to the families of those affected and I hope they find closure in due time.”
Adelami also berated the large scale destruction, attacks and looting of media houses and private properties on allegations that they were owned by the national leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He urged lagosians to beware of third force elements whose motive is to destabilize the polity through the propagation of falsehood.
He added that attacks on police personnel, formations and facilities, traditional institutions, public facilities, buildings and properties by hoodlums were unwarranted, despicable and saddening.
He specifically described as worrisome the burning and looting of the state secretariat of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, office of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, and other police facilities in Ondo state.
While appealing to security agents to brace up at protecting lives and properties, he urged them to get to the root of the identities of hijackers of the peaceful protest. He also appealed to traditional rulers, political, religious, and opinion leaders as well as parents to do more to preach peace at this auspicious moments of our nation’s history.
“The attacks on the state secretariats of the APC and the PDP in Akure, and offices of the Nigerian Police Force across Ondo state are unwarranted and all leaders should come together to ensure peace reigns supreme in Ondo state and the country at large.”
“Let me also commend governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu for his proactiveness in constituting a panel of inquiry to look into the allegations of brutality against the police, and the mature way he has been handling the protests and violence in the state.”
The former Deputy Clerk to the National Assembly also appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to deliver a soothing special broadcast to address the yearnings of the youth and put in proper perspective, all the contentious issues.
“I urge our President, Muhammadu Buhari, to as a matter of urgent national importance, address the Nation and provide direction at this critical period in the history of our nation to avoid further killings and destruction of properties.”
To the media, that have also come under attacks by the hoodlums and overzealous security operatives, Adelami urged them not to be discouraged and to continue to give accurate reports in line with their professional ethics to help douse the tension orchestrated by merchants of fake news and misinformation.
While expressing the strong belief that the nation will come out stronger and united after the present crisis, he added that the general public should take time to verify any information seen on social media and exercise restraints in disseminating news that can fuel the current crisis.