Yoruba Group Cautions Against Planned Protests

Think Yoruba First (TYF), a Yoruba socio-cultural group, has cautioned against the planned nationwide protests slated to commence on Thursday, August 1.

In a statement signed by TYF President, Bolarinwa Oladimeji, the group said its warning had become necessary against the backdrop of intelligence report within its reach that some forces behind the protests intended to create chaos and destabilize the polity.

“What should have been a peaceful protest has now been turned to a civilian coup planning mechanism”, TYF stated.

The group, which acknowledged the right of Nigerians to peacefully express their displeasure, however, said it was against any plan to foment political upheaval resulting in anarchy.

Nigeria, though currently faced with undeniable economic and social challenges blamed on government policies and reforms, the situation did not warrant invitation to violence and the attendant social consequences, TYF argued.

“As an organisation concerned with growth, development and peace, we caution against this protest; we advise that the various ethnic nationalities take the protests to their indigenous states and local governments with no violence. We don’t support any violence and destruction of lives and property in the South-West and other regions of Yoruba space”, the group stated.

Recalling what happened in Lagos during the EndSARS protest in 2020, the group called on the federal and state governments to provide adequate security in order to thwart the evil agenda of “terrorist cells” planning to use protests to destabilise the country.