Oba Babatunde Ogunlaja, the Aladeshonyin of Odo-Noforija in Epe Division, has urged those protesting against hardship and bad governance to withdraw from the streets and engage government on their demands.

Mr Ogunlaja made the plea in an interview with journalists in Epe-Noforija, on Saturday.

The traditional ruler urged protesters to embrace dialogue, saying endless protests could result in unfavourable outcomes.

“I appeal to protesters to use other means to express their concerns and highlight the problems in the country rather than protest.

“Many of the protests have not been peaceful. Some of the protests have turned violent, leading to loss of lives and destruction of properties.

“Therefore, I will appeal to protesters once again to leave the streets and embrace dialogue for progress, ” he said.

The traditional ruler acknowledged the fact that many citizens are going through a lot owing to the challenges in the economy.

He, however, cautioned against actions that could plunge the country into chaos.

Mr Ogunlana said while peaceful protests could be legitimate form of expression, their outcomes were often destruction and loss of lives.

“The outcomes of many protests have always been destruction.

“Protests are often hijacked by hoodlums, who use the opportunity to loot, maim and unleash terror.

“Even on the first day of the protest, we already witnessed substantial destruction,” he said.

The traditional ruler urged Nigerians to continue to pray for leaders to enable them to succeed.

He stressed the need for patience and understanding, saying that destructive actions only serve to exacerbate problems rather than solve them.

“The path to progress lies in our collective efforts to work through challenges together,” he added.

The traditional ruler expressed hope for a brighter future achieved through hard work, sacrifice and collaboration.

(NAN)