The former two term Member House of Representatives (MHR) to Ondo East and West Federal Constituency Hon Joseph Iranola Akinlaja has appealed to the youths for a modest and acceptable protest. Protest is a generally acceptable world practice to express dissatisfaction to any unfriendly policies introduced by the government or organisations, it could also be described as a statement or action expressing disapproval of or objection to something.
Therefore Nigeria should not be an exemption, however, past experiences and recent happenings in Kenya made government to do everything within their power to discourage such act in order for innocent citizens not to be victim of vandalisation, or untimely death.
In his remarks while appearing on a live advocacy video for peaceful protest being in circulation on many online platforms and made available to the newsmen on 30th July 2024. Hon Akinlaja recalled the experience of End SARS saga, how it started peacefully and later was hijacked by the hoodlums, a situation that the only community bank in Ondo city was burnt into ashes, up till today the building remained a monument.
The Chairman of Hotels Owner in the kingdom reiterated the lives that were lost and properties that were damaged during the period so we must not allow such to repeat itself in the kingdom
In furtherance to the negative effects of violent protests the reknown philanthropist narrated how he visited the Trauma Center where lives were lost, even some legs were amputated to save the lives of the victims.
He therefore, appealed for caution to the youths to better refrain from the protest rather than to allow hoodlums to hijack it again from them, once beaten twice shy so to say.
Hon Akinlaja greeted the King and his Chiefs for the New Yam Festival and the Odun Oba celebrations and wish the kingdom hitch free protest period if at all there will be any!