My victory a call to do more, says Makinde
• Archbishop Martins condemns ethnic profiling, urges peace, tolerance
• Groups decry high level of violence in gubernatorial election
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has said that his victory in last Saturday’s governorship election was a call to do more for the state and its people. He said that his administration would continue to uplift the people, noting that he will continue to lift people from poverty to prosperity.
In a statement by Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, the governor gave the promise during a reception organised by Chairman of Ilaji Resort and Otun Apesinola of Ibadanland, Dotun Sanusi.
Makinde, who appreciated Sanusi for his support and for putting together what he described as a victory get-together, said he would now focus on the task of building the state, having exited the campaign mode.
MEANWHILE, the Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev. Alfred Adewale Martins, has condemned in very strong terms all forms of ethnic profiling, utterances and violence witnessed in parts of Lagos State before, during and after the recent elections. He, therefore, warned that the trend, if not urgently check-mated, could truncate the peaceful co-existence of residents of the state.
The archbishop described as unfortunate and unacceptable the tension, hate-speech and violence, especially before, during and after the recently-held gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections.
In a statement made available to The Guardian, yesterday, by the Director of Social Communications, Rev. Fr. Anthony Godonu, the prelate urged the state government to, as a matter of urgency, call all parties to order and put in place machinery for quick restoration of peace and normalcy. He equally implored the law enforcement agencies to safeguard the life and property of all residents, irrespective of tribe, religion, or ethnic groups.
IN another development, Community Life Project (CLP)/Reclaim Naija, Justice Development and Peace Centre (JDPC) and Caritas Nigeria have decried the violence that characterised the gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections, urging security agencies to investigate, arrest and prosecute the perpetrators. The groups said that elections in Lagos were preceded by serious intimidation of voters in several polling units.
