Femi Onireti has hailed the Oyo state governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, over his handling of the bitter EndSARS protests in the state positing this ensured the protests did not escalate into another massacre.
Onireti, a US-based businessman, made this observation in a statement he made available to ogbomosoinsightonlne.com recently.
He stated that Governor Makinde during the trying period demonstrated sagacity, maturity and understanding, while noting these prevented the degeneration of the protests into bloody riots and into another Lekki massacre.
“At Femi Onireti Foundation we are impressed by the manner the Oyo state governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, handled the EndSARS protests. The governor brought to bear sagacity, maturity and understanding. Engr. Makinde demonstrated capability in conflict management, which was the saving grace for the state.
“How many governors did the way he did; when protesters were killed in Ogbomoso he rushed down to commiserate with the families of the deceased and gave them money; he was at the Ogbomoso palace on a sympathy visit to Baba Soun, where he announced cash donations and most importantly refrained from promising the perpetrators fire and brimstone, which helped to calm frayed nerves.
“His Excellency showed his dexterity when he walked among angry rioters who just burned two police officers and were boiling to burn police commands and stations, to calm them down, not minding the risks to his life, when some governors were attacked during protests in some states days earlier. Governor Makinde is really a man of the people. When others were imposing curfew, he did not, meaning he did not give license to security agents to kill his people thus preventing another Lekki massacre. He is not leading by emotion but by reason and understanding of the psyche of the people.”
Onireti meanwhile commiserated with the families that lost persons in the protests in Ogbomoso, Oyo state and all over the country.
In another development, Femi Onireti Foundation has donated a motorcycle to a driver of Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Oladunni Oyewumi, Mr. Babatunde Odekola, whose motorcycle was burnt down by angry protesters at Ogbomoso palace during an invasion.
Onireti who was represented at the presentation ceremony said it was part of his contribution to the repair of the damages caused by the EndSARS protest in the city. He prayed against having such occurrence again appealing to governments to always quickly respond to the legitimate requests of the youths and people generally instead allowing legitimate requests to fester and degenerate.
The beneficiary whose nickname is Oju-e-tere expressed gratitude to the Onireti Foundation. This is just as the philanthropist has made monetary donation to the family of Jimoh Isiaka mowed down by the police during the EndSARS protest in Ogbomoso on October 10, 2020.
