People celebrate on February 27, 2019 in a street of Kano, the re-election of Muhammadu Buhari as Nigerian president after a delayed poll that angered voters and raised political temperatures – but the opposition immediately vowed to challenge the “sham” result in court. (Photo AFP)
By Sam Eyoboka
LAGOS—WORRIED by skirmishes in parts of Lagos during the February 23 presidential /National Assembly elections, Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev. Alfred Adewale Martins has again stressed the need for the various ethnic groups in the state to live in peace and harmony.
All Progressives Congress (APC) party supporters rally as they celebrate the re-election of the incumbent president and the leader of APC, in Kano on February 27, 2019. – Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari said his re-election was “free and fair”, after his beaten rival denounced the results as a “sham” and promised a legal challenge that could dominate politics for weeks. The 76-year-old one-time military ruler’s victory was confirmed late on February 26, 2019, after rescheduled polling blamed on logistical difficulties. (Photo AFP)
Reacting to reports of ethnic crises in some parts of the state during the elections, and rumours of reprisal attacks, Archbishop Martins called on all parties to sheathe their swords and allow the peace and tranquillity for which the state is known to subsist.
He pleaded with all those fuelling the embers of ethnicity and disunity in the state to desist so as to forestall possible breakdown of law and order.
“I wish to call on all residents of our dear state, Lagos, not to allow their political differences degenerate into any form of violence such that we polarize the state and throw it into chaos. We hear of how the elections of February 23 are currently generating some tension in parts of the state, with ethnic group pitched against another.
“Let us all remember that Lagos is a metropolitan city and home to over 17 million Nigerians drawn from far and near. We are all brothers and sisters. It does not matter where we come from or which religion we profess. We should therefore learn to accommodate each other’s political differences; shun violence and avoid the temptation of undermining the security of life and property of any one,” he cautioned, stressing that Lagos is known as one of the most peaceful cities in the country.
Violence unfortunate, condemnable
On the several cases of electoral violence recorded in the state, Archbishop Martins said this was unfortunate and condemnable, considering the various sensitization efforts made by the Church and the Civil Societies to sensitise the electorate on their rights and responsibilities, before, during and after casting their votes.
Urging residents to desist from any act capable of undermining the peaceful coexistence, Martins called on the state government and the law enforcement agencies to look closely into the matter in order to forestall future occurrences, particularly the Governorship/state assembly elections coming up in two weeks time.
“We are in a democracy which allows for one-man-one-vote. It is wrong for anyone to dictate or impose his or her will on another concerning who to cast his or her vote for. Such acts are undemocratic and undermine the provisions of the electoral act. I urge those involved to desist from such acts forthwith.”
Archbishop Martins also called on the 91 political parties and all contenders for political offices in the state to prevail on their supporters to desist from undermining the rights of the electorate through intimidation with a view to disenfranchising them or disrupting the process of election of persons of their choice.
He also called on parents and guardians to prevail on their children/wards to resist any attempt to use them as canon fodders for political upheavals and thuggery.
https://newlive.vanguardngr.com/2019/02/buhari-ll-run-smoother-govt-this-time-says-support-group/
“They (youths) should consider their lives and future to be as precious as the lives of the children of contestants who never join in the violent activities that they are recruited to carry out. We must keep up our prayers for a peaceful, free and fair elections,” Archbishop Martins counseled .
https://newlive.vanguardngr.com/2019/02/okota-crisis-suspected-thug-demola-to-face-trial-cp-muazu/
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