Campaigning along ethnic lines will lead to crisis in Lagos, AA warns
The Action Alliance (AA) in Lagos on Sunday urged politicians and their followers to avoid ethnic rivalry in the electioneering ahead of the forthcoming governorship and state assembly elections in the state.
Nureni Ayinla-Oniru, the Lagos State chairman of the party, appealed while speaking with journalists following some ethnic campaigns and tension between Yorubas and Igbos in the state ahead of the March 18 polls.
“Politicians should not heat up polity with ethnic bigotry. We should avoid anything that can result in an ethnic crisis.
“If we don’t manage this trend ahead of the elections, it can cause mayhem that will affect the masses beyond imagination.
“When trouble comes, the children of those fanning hate and instigating violence will not be there,” he said.
Mr Ayinla-Oniru, who noted that nothing could be achieved in an atmosphere of hatred and bitterness among various ethnic nationalities resident in the state, stressed the need for all political gladiators not to ignite violence but tread with caution.
According to him, hate, fake news and profiling of some candidates by some politicians will not help anyone.
He said that the Igbos and Hausas had been part of the government in Lagos State and had their rights in the state.
Mr Ayinla-Oniru said that the co-existence of indigenes and non-indigenes in the state had been symbiotic.
The chairman described it as political propaganda, the narrative that a particular ethnic nationality wanted to take over the state.
“It is a lie that some people will take over Lagos. We should not be deceived,” he added.
He said that AA had enticing welfare packages for the masses, urging the electorate to vote for the party as against other major political parties.
He said the party would tackle challenges in transportation, health, education, unemployment and transparency in governance, saying only AA had the interest of the masses at heart.
Noting that only one party has been ruling the state since 1999, Mr Ayinla-Oniru said there would be no difference in the condition of the masses if given another term.
The chairman said that dominant political parties could not deliver the yearnings of the people because of godfatherism, except AA, whose slogan is “Let the masses live”.
(NAN)
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
Economy
Tinubu committed to investment in renewable energy, says presidential aides
He said Mr Tinubu is committed to investments in renewable energy development, human capital empowerment, clean energy innovation, and Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan.
Agriculture
Flooding may raise vegetable prices, Lagos farmers warn
“If we sold vegetables at lower prices before, they will now become more expensive because farmers must recover their losses,” she said.
States
Oyo Abduction: Freed teacher says terrorists released victims before security operatives arrived
Abducted on May 15, the Oyo schoolchildren and their teachers were freed on June 10, after 56 days in captivity.
States
Residents lament deplorable road in Ondo community, seek government intervention
Residents of the agrarian community described the road as a death trap.
NationWide
Stakeholders in Osun, Ondo, Ekiti call for broader participation in constitutional reforms
They also appealed to Nigerians to pay equal attention to all constitutional amendment bills, rather than focusing on the state police proposal.
Economy
SEC set to deliver sustained zero trade fail rate in T+1 settlement cycle: DG
The DG said the focus would be on full delivery-versus-payment discipline across custodians, brokers and the Central Securities Clearing System Plc (CSCS).
