The Southwest Governors’ Forum, on Sunday said the region witnessed an “attack on our heritage” after the #EndSARS protest was hijacked by hoodlums.
Their views were captured by Rotimi Akeredolu, chairman of the Forum and governor of Ondo State. He expressed the opinion at a meeting of the governors of the region, held in Lagos to fashion a strategy for improved security in the six states in the region after the devastation that came with the #EndSARS protest.
The Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, announced that the meeting was organized for those in government to fashion new, creative ways to engage the country’s youths more to prevent their restiveness.
According to Gambari, President Buhari was aware of the level of destruction to private and public infrastructure in Lagos.
He reiterated the federal government’s commitment to addressing the many challenges and demands of the youths in due course.
Akeredolu observed that the southwest had passed through a lot in recent times. He said that when the #EndSARS protest started in the South-West and other parts of the country, the police were guiding the protesters, but added that eventually turned to a different thing following the hijack by hoodlums.
“In the recent past, our experience has been most worrisome, everybody is concerned, we have to sustain the peace we have started noticing.
“We are worried. What we are seeing in the last days shows that something needs to be done,´´Akeredolu said. He said that the meeting was to improve on the relationship in the South-West region and find solutions to youth unrest. “What we have witnessed in the South-West is a great attack on our heritage. We must have collaboration across board. We need the cooperation of the Federal Government so that this does not repeat itself,´´ he said.
He urged the governors to be up and doing in their duties, adding that the welfare of the people was paramount. Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said that the South-West region had serious issues of security confronting the people. Sanwo-Olu said that over 500 vehicles, both public and private were destroyed, hospitals, monarch palace, among others, were all affected.
Other governors that attended the meeting Gboyega Oyetola (Osun), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti) and Seyi Makinde (Oyo). The meeting was also attended by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, his works and housing counterparts, Babatunde Fashola, Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, among others. The traditional rulers in attendance include Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji, Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, among others.
