The Baba Adinni of Lagos, Alhaji Sikiru Alabi-Macfoy, has appealed to Nigerians to be patient with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration in the face of economic hardship.
The Muslim leader called on those agitating for protest to explore dialogue with the government and their representatives at various legislative houses.
Alhaji Alabi-Macfoy stated that dialogue, if properly harnessed, would help solve the present socio-economic challenges.
He cautioned against violence protests that may lead to the destruction of public infrastructure.
“The youths should be patient. Development in any society is gradual and comes with pains at the early stage. Whatever their grievances are, they should say it out. The government will listen, and they’ll make sure they work on it,” he said.
Citing the looting of private firms and destruction of public facilities during the #EndSARS# Protest, the Baba Adinni of Lagos warned that a repeat of such would result in suffering for all.
“If we spoil everything, we’ll have to start again, and everybody will suffer. If you burn buses and loot companies, nobody will be able to go to work; factories will not work, industries will wind up, and traders who survive on daily trade will be affected as well. We need to put on our thinking cap before carrying out any action,” he said.
He, however, called on elected officials to go back to their constituencies, listen to their people’s grievances, engage them, and come up with realistic solutions.
Alhaji Alabi-Macfoy appealed to clerics to assuage the populace with their sermons and urged them to continue to pray for the country.