By Jubril Bada

The Chief Imam of Akure Kingdom, Alhaji AbdulHakeem Yayi-Akorede, has urged Muslims, students, youth, politicians, associations, and unions to shun the proposed August 1 protest against the federal government over economic hardship.

He called on them to dialogue with the government rather than embark on a protest that may not be a solution to the challenges facing the country.

The cleric stated this on Friday during the Jumat service.

Though he described the proposed protest as a good move to express grievances against the government and leaders, he called on youths to recall the EndSARS protest, in which many lives, mainly youths, were lost.

While urging citizens in the state, particularly youths, to dialogue with the government on how to address the hardship facing the country, the cleric challenged President Bola Tinubu to clarify which clerics and Obas the presidency had met with regarding the proposed protest.

“As the Chief Imam of Akure, there was nowhere the government had a meeting with clerics in the state to speak with their subjects about not embarking on the protest.

“I will advise the president to hold a meeting with religious leaders and Obas who have control over their subjects regarding the protest.

“If we (youths) protest for ten days, how will a driver whose means of livelihood depends on daily work feed his family members?

“The negative effects of #EndSARS, with the burned tires that destroyed our roads, have not been addressed. The negative effects of the protest will not be resolved if we embark on it,” he said.

While putting blame on traders’ associations for worsening the hardship in the country through their selfish interest of inflating prices of goods and services, he commended the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, among other Obas in Yoruba land, for their timely intervention to call trader associations to order over the inflation of prices.

Yayi-Akorede, who explained that the government cannot satisfy everyone, urged the government to distribute high-quality palliatives to people, not those in bad condition.

Similarly, the Chief Imam of Ondo State Government House, Alhaji Yunu Anola, stated that the country is facing many problems and that Muslims are not expected to defy the government.

The Imam, who cited EndSARS and events in Kenya with no favourable results, urged parents to caution their children against joining the protests, as one can know the beginning, but the end is unknown.

The cleric emphasized that it is forbidden for Muslims to be confrontational, stressing that life is spacious and should not be taken for granted.

The Imam also said the challenges facing the country are not specific to Nigeria alone; other countries are equally facing the same issues.

He further admonished that there have not been any positive results from protests, and the Muslims should face the current challenges with patience.

“Islam forbids violent protests. For the past three days, there has been serious panic in Owo, where banks are closed and everyone is at home,” he noted.