Guber Polls: YSDC Cautions Electorate Against Ethnicity, Tribal Sentiment, Violence

 

The Yoruba Self-Determination Coalition (YSDC) has called on the electorate in the Southwest states to eschew tribal sentiments, ethnic colouration and intimidation as they go out to votes their preferred candidates in the March 11 2023 Governorship and State Houses of Assemblies elections. 

Spokesperson of YSDC, Comrade Alex Omotehinse, who spoke on behalf of the  group at a press conference on Saturday in Lagos, stated that the Presidential/National Assembly elections were filled with lots of misgivings along ethnic divides, that he said might snowball into violence and arson if not curtailed before the forthcoming elections.

“The Presidential election has thrown up diverse opinions, especially to Lagos aborigines. To some, the outcome of the presidential election was not acceptable, while the non-indigenes saw it as a confirmation of their presence in the political space of the state. 

“Ours is not to be drawn in for/against the position of the people, but to put it succinctly so as to shape the minds of Nigerians irrespective of their sex, religion, tribe or ethnicity to eschew violence, intimidation and harassment of one another as gist on the street of Lagos symbolizes and epitomizes showdown from all.

“YSDC is aware of tribal sentiment put on the public domain (YORUBA/IGBO DICHOTOMY) towards March 11, 2023 Governorship and States Houses of Assembly election script by political actors to gain sympathy from the electorates.

“This is invariably heating the polity and may end-up causing voter apathy, disenfranchisement of Lagos residents to perform their civic responsibility as enshrined by the constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria," he said.

Comrade Omotehinse also stated that the group has written a letter to the Lagos Commissioner of Police, Idowu Owohunwa stating unequivocally the need for more seriousness in providing adequate security on election day.

“Election duty is not a privilege, but a constitutional role that must be accorded much more seriousness than what obtains in the previous election.”

The group then urged INEC and security agencies to be fair and transparent so as to make the election peaceful and seamless. 

“We call on INEC as an umpire to be fair to all, and conduct free and transparent election that can stand the test of time.

“We call on all security agencies that will be on duty to be impartial and discharge their duties as enshrined in the electoral law.

“We also call on all political office seekers across political divides to be law abiding and stop over-heating the polity and seek redress through legal process in case of any discrepancy," he said.

He however, stated that the group is poised to rise in defence of the people against anyone that is hellbent on causing chaos or  mayhem during the election.

Evangelist Kunle Adesokan, Mr. Hameed Balogun and Mrs. Bolaji Komolafe, who were at the event, also corroborated the the assertions, while charging leaders of contending political parties not to see the election as a do or die affair.

Evangelist Adesokan added now that a Yoruba had been elected as the next President of Nigeria, any breakdown of law and order in Lagos State would send a wrong signal.