On Thursday, the Coalition of Yoruba Youth leaders called on the planned nationwide protest organisers in August to shelve the idea and remain calm.

President-general of the coalition, Tolani Hassan, said in a statement that the apex umbrella body for all Yoruba youth associations and organisations had dissociated itself from the protest.

Mr Hassan, who is also the national president of Yoruba Youths Association Worldwide (YYA), however, said that the coalition recognised the plight of Nigerians.

“The economy is unfriendly, the cost of living is outrageous and out of the reach of the common man. It is also true that inflation rate is in the double digit and unemployment rate in Nigeria is alarming. So many graduates are out there with no means of survival. The Federal Government has not employed people in the last couple of years.

“However, the leadership of Yoruba youth leaders do not want a repeat of the ENDSARS saga, hence, our call for protest cancellation and calm,” he said.

The president-general urged the organisers to rather employ other measures to make the government across levels understand the economic hardship in the land.

“The apex body of the entire youths in Yoruba land expressly disassociates itself from the planned protest. We will defend the entire South-West against any form of destruction by disgruntled elements, who may want to cause havoc in the region, particularly Lagos state.

“Nigeria is our fatherland. Together, we can make it work. Dialogue is the best way. Consultation is a better approach,” Mr Hassan said.

He, however, pleaded with President Bola Tinubu to listen to the youths.

The youth leader advised Mr Tinubu to directly interface with all the youth leaders in the various geopolitical zones, saying the use of intermediaries would not bring results.

He called for reviewing the primary to tertiary level educational curriculum and inculcation of practical skills, including agriculture, to make Nigerian youths self-reliant.

There have been reports that some Nigerians are planning a nationwide protest from August 1 to 10, under various bodies, over the rising cost of living and economic hardships.

(NAN)