2023 Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is not happy with some “Political leaders across the country especially Lagos State” as he warns them “to desist from actions that promote election violence”.
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| 2023 Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar |
The former Vice President of Nigeria buttressed that such actions “can compromise peace, unity and democracy in our country”.
Atiku confessed he is worried “about how lackeys of political leaders in Lagos State have unabatedly made ethnic slurs aimed at intimidating voters in the state in tomorrow’s election”.
He went ahead to call on security agencies “to ensure that politicians and their protégés submit to the rules of democratic fair-play across the country, especially in Lagos State”.
Atiku said: “It is important for political leaders across the country, especially Lagos State, to desist from actions that promote election violence, such that can compromise peace, unity and democracy in our country.
“I am concerned about how lackeys of political leaders in Lagos State have unabatedly made ethnic slurs aimed at intimidating voters in the state in tomorrow’s election.
“I have watched with profound disdain a certain video in circulation where some persons known to be associates of the leaders of the ruling party in Lagos State are issuing threats against other ethnic groups in the build up to the Governorship and State House of Assembly election
“in the state tomorrow.
“I condemn this uncivilised behaviour and also condemn the criminal silence of the security agencies and the political leadership in Lagos State and Abuja on this development.
“Every democracy is as virile as the culture of the electoral system that governs it. The democracy that we fought for and operate in Nigeria thrives on the principle of free and equal participation.
“Beyond that, I find it morally wrong and repugnant for political actors to make broad-day incitements against a particular ethnic bloc in an attempt to intimidate them from voting for their choice candidate.
“It is not enough to talk about the promise of a free and fair election. The actions that we take prior to Election Day must have the integrity of a badge of honour.
“It is, therefore on this note, that I specifically call on security agencies in the country to ensure that politicians and their protégés submit to the rules of democratic fair-play across the country, especially in Lagos State, for the sake of decency and the promotion of peace and unity.”
