12th March, 2023
Adeyemi Adeleye
A pressure group, the Leaders After God’s Own Spirit Initiative, has warned politicians in Nigeria to stop creating divisions among the people over elections.
It said the way the politicians were carrying on, the situation could lead to tribal and religious wars, especially in Lagos State.
The Convener, Pastor Bolaji Akinyemi, who made this remark at a news conference on Saturday in Lagos said it was necessary to douse the ethnic and religious bigotry among politicians and their followers ahead of the governorship elections billed for March 18.
According to him, what is most important is the peaceful co-existence of people across ethnic and religious divides.
Akinyemi, also Chairman, Board of Trustees, Project Victory Corps (PVC) Initiative and Convener, Apostolic Roundtable (an independent platform for pastors), urged politicians to stop all drumbeats of war in the name of politics.
“Political decisions should not lead us to war. Going through this election, we have seen dynamics in Lagos being thrown up: the dynamics of tribes like the Igbos wanting to take over Lagos, the Yoruba must not allow them, and all kinds of narratives.
“I doubt if we are going to have an election on Saturday in Lagos if we do not douse this narrative that is gaining momentum.
“It is important that we bring everybody together and discuss the way forward. We must as leaders adequately carry the people along,” he was quoted by the News Agency of Nigeria.