‘YORUBA OBIDIENTS’ WITHDRAW PARTICIPATION FROM HARDSHIP PROTEST
A group known as Yoruba Obidients, also called the Lagos Patriot, a faction of the Labour Party in Lagos, has withdrawn their participation in the proposed hardship protest scheduled to hold on Thursday, August 1st.
The caucus, which represents the majority of the opposition party members in Lagos State, emphasized their stance against using Lagos as the battleground for the demonstration.
In a press conference today, Hon. Aboderin Aduragbemi, the coordinator of the Lagos Patriot LP, outlined the groupās concerns about the potential for peaceful protests to be hijacked and turned violent.
The statement read, āWe believe that it is within the right of the citizens to have a peaceful protest; however, we know from experience that the peaceful protest will be hijacked and made to become violent to portray the group/Labour Party in a bad light.ā
The Labour Party Lagos Patriots encouraged their members across all 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in Lagos, as well as other Lagosians, to refrain from participating in the protest. Instead, they urged citizens to engage constructively with the government to ensure the delivery of quality democratic dividends.
āWe donāt believe one needs to politicize every situation in our nation and take advantage of the masses, especially when the government is doing their best to manage the current economic situation,ā the statement continued. The group stressed their commitment to objective criticism and opposition without engaging in tribalism or a ābring them downā mentality.
Recognizing the current administrationās plea for time to address issues, the Labour Party Lagos Patriots called for patience, stating, āWe think this opportunity should be given to them before the citizens can occupy the street in the name of #Endbadgovernanceprotest.ā