Seyi Makinde, the governor of Oyo State, in reaction to the protest against fuel and naira scarcity in Ibadan on Friday, had addressed the residents in a broadcast.

Due to the prevailing persistence of Naira scarcity and hard economy in the country, a protest had erupted in Ibadan, Oyo State, with the residents gathering on the streets to burn tires and block passage on the roads. It was equally reported that the governor’s office was as well destroyed in anger.

“Though Makinde wasn’t against the protest but he was against destruction of property, in his words: “Let me say I understand the need for this protest, when citizens get pushed to the wall, there is only so much that they can take, the continuous fuel scarcity and the scarcity of the Naira have led to slow economic activities. I must repeat, I understand and feel your pain. I have always maintain that peaceful protests are fine, when things are not going the way we want them to go , we have a right and even a responsibility to protest.

“Let me also state that while we are protesting, we must remember how easily a peaceful protests can to turn to violence and lead to the loss of lives and property. The violence that erupted in part of Ibadan today is condemnable and will not be tolerated, in response to this, I have suspended all campaign activities forthwith, I have also met with head of security agency in Oyo State, to restore calm and maintain the peace in our dear state.

“Violence can not and will not solve our problem, it only create new ones, we have another opportunity in a few weeks to move this country in a new direction, use your PVC , not violence.

“We must not allow elements within us, who have other motives to take advantage of peaceful protests to perpetrate evil or pushed their agendas, I urged all law abiding citizens and residents of the state to go about their lawful activities, all out security agencies are in high alert.” He added