The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, alongside other leaders in the Agege area, convened a meeting on Wednesday to emphasize unity, resilience, and patience in anticipation of the upcoming nationwide protest.

The leaders engaged with various youth groups, reminding them of President Bola Tinubu’s efforts to address Nigeria’s challenges. The planned 10-day protest is set to commence on Thursday, August 1, 2024. Dr. Obasa highlighted that Agege residents have significantly benefited from democratic dividends, particularly in infrastructure development, which has boosted local businesses.

“We are enjoying the dividends of democracy in Agege, and our governor is doing a lot for us. There are numerous ongoing developmental projects in Agege. If the government is working on these, why should we be combative against it?” Obasa said.

He urged community leaders to advise their children and residents against participating in activities that could incite violence. “Inflation is a global issue, and the President is working on it. He has only been in office for a year, which is too short to resolve all problems,” Obasa added, calling for patience and unity.

Wale Ahmed, a member of the House of Representatives, emphasized Agege’s unity and expressed optimism that the youth would refrain from participating in potentially violent protests. He advised the gathering to ignore provocations from protestors.

Local government chairmen, Chief Ganiyu Egunjobi and Johnson Babatunde reiterated the need to protect government infrastructure by abstaining from the protest. Egunjobi recalled the destruction during the EndSARS protest, urging residents to maintain peace.

The Alaige of Agege, Oba Ambaliu Agbedeyi, representing traditional rulers, praised Agege’s political leaders for their commitment to residents’ welfare and prayed against any evil plots against their domains.

Eromosele Ebhomele, Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, shared the updates from the meeting, emphasizing the leaders’ collective call for peace and unity in the face of national challenges.