HUNGER PROTEST: AIYEDATIWA'S AIDE, OLAMIDE FALANA URGES WOMEN TO CAUTION THEIR WARDS AGAINST VIOLENCE AND PROTEST

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HUNGER PROTEST: AIYEDATIWA’S AIDE, OLAMIDE FALANA URGES WOMEN TO CAUTION THEIR WARDS AGAINST VIOLENCE AND PROTEST

The Special Adviser to Governor Aiyedatiwa on Gender Matters, Chief (Mrs.) Olamide Falana has called on women to caution their wards against the joining the planned protest, pleading with Nigerian youths to seek alternative means of pressing home their demands from the nation’s leadership.

While speaking to newsmen in Akure, Chief Falana who is a staunch advocate of policy changes and initiatives that positively affect youths and gender alike said that it was highly necessary to respond to the planned hunger protest because violence can occur, likewise looting of goods that can tend to cripple trade and businesses which would negatively impact more on the women, if such ensues.

She said, though it is a right of the citizens to protest against any form of policy they are not comfortable with, there is the need to exercise caution as their good intentions may turn violent.

“Based on precedents, It is crucial to note that women and youths are at higher risk and tend to suffer most should an outbreak of violence occur; We must therefore refuse to allow our wards run into danger as safety during such demonstrations cannot be predicted”.

Emphasizing further, the Special Adviser said it was particularly poignant to recall the volume of lives and property lost to the #ENDSARS# protest whereby innocent lives paid for it.

“Protests could be hijacked while hoodlums begin to loot and cause mayhem; Let mothers discourage their sons from being exposed to hostility or other unforeseen circumstances that may occur in a bid to making their voices heard”.

Chief Falana restated that the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu is trying so hard to make life better for Nigerians in terms of making funds accessible to students through the Ministry of Commerce, reforms in the petroleum sector, massive distribution of food palliatives, agricultural input to farmers and financial grants to provide assistance to boost small businesses which commendably has a selection criteria that covers women, youths and people with disabilities.

“We must realize that time is of essence as regards restructuring the various systems across the nation; It is best to engage the government in more constructive ways that would lead to better resolutions for the yet to be met needs”.

At the State level, Chief Falana explained that the Governor, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa has not reneged on giving succor to the people to alleviate poverty and hardship “Recently the Governor approved Two billion naira for food subsidy; people can now buy food at highly subsidized rates at government designated centres;

Other sectors are not left out even as he also approved One billion naira to offset gratuity payment of pensioners as well as the approved payment of bursary and scholarships to students of tertiary institutions” These and more are interventions of the government at the state level to ensure life is better for the people of Ondo State.

She reiterated that the Governor is a man of the people who has a listening ear and as swiftly as possible profer solutions to ease the problems.

“Let us give the government time rather than take to the streets to join the protest that maybe hard to curtail and hijacked by unscrupulous individuals who mean no good for our dear state and the nation at large”.

According to the Media Officer in the Office of Gender Matters, Debbie Funmilayo, The Special Adviser maintained that people should strive for peace as it is the most significant alternative to ensure government meets the demands of the people.

“We must continue to support the government and unitedly shun the planned protest by seeking more constructive ways to engage the government in resolving the herculean problems at hand because very soon all these challenges would become a thing of the past once the positive impact of the interventions begin to fully materialize” She urged.