In a bid to safeguard the lives and properties of its citizens during the nationwide planned protest scheduled for August 1, the Osun State Government has ordered the closure of all schools in the state.
The order which was handed down by the permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education in the state, Mr. M.A.K Jimoh on Monday evening, directed both private and public schools to proceed on the third term vacation From Wednesday 31st July, 2023
In a public service announcement information in Osogbo, the state government informed the general public, particularly parents, guardians and heads of both public and private schools in the state to take note of the message.
The permanent Secretary added that, Parents and Guardians are advised to ensure the safety of their wards during the vacation.
On its part, the state government reaffirmed the right of every citizen of the state to protest, so long as the exercise is peaceful.
Taking to a statement on Monday, the state government noted that the governor, Ademola Adeleke urged “CSO, others,to thread the part of peace, before, during and after the protests.
The statement added further that: Ahead of the planned nationwide protests scheduled to commence between August 1 and 10,throughout Nigeria, Osun state Governor,Senator Ademola Adeleke has hinged on the need for members of the Civil Society Organisations in Osun as well as other stakeholders planning to take part in the protests to eschew any act capable of undermining the peace and security of Osun.
Governor Adeleke who acknowledged that the protesters have the inalienable right as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to embark on a protest ,however, frowned at any act that has the tendency of mortgaging the peace and tranquility of Osun State and it’s people.
Represented by the state Deputy Governor,Prince Kola Adewusi alongside some members of the Osun State Executive Council, Governor Adeleke, had a mutually comprehensive citizen engagement dialogue with the members of the Civil Society Organisations and other groups throughout Osun State, who converged on Finance Building, State Secretariat, Abeere, for the dialogue.
According to the Governor while at the meeting which lasted over two hours ” the peace and harmony of Osun state should be of paramount interest to us during the planned protests.
“My administration’s commitments ,at all times ,at making Osun a reference point for other states in Nigeria remains germane .
“I therefore implore you to be law abiding before ,during and after the coming nationwide protests, as no act of violence of any kind would be entertained by my administration in Osun State while carrying out your protests. “In Osun, we are known to be good and peaceful and we should allow that to remain our pride as a state that is always ahead of others in all things that are good and developmental”
Ended the remarks of Governor Adeleke through his Deputy, Prince Kola Adewusi. Earlier in their remarks, Osun State Commissioner of Police, Mr Umar Abba and General Officer Commanding, Engineering Construction Regiment ,Ede, Brigadier General Abdul Kareem Aliyu, equally admonished the protesters to be decorous while carrying out the protests in Osun State. The G.O.C of E.C.R Ede who pointed out that Osun is unarguably the most peaceful state in Nigeria, also counselled the protesters not to compromise on this and other good attributes of the state on the altar of staging a violent protest.
In the same vein, all the Service Chiefs comprising the Nigeria Police, Army, DSS, Immigration, Correctional Centre, Civil Defence, Air Force and Road Safety among others at the meeting were also unanimous in their contributions to deflate any tendency to make the protests assume the toga of hooliganism and other untoward acts of unbridled lawlessness, stressing that, anyone caught will be made to face the music.
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