Obi cautions against repeat of Lagos violence, Razak urges voters to back Sanwo-Olu

Runnning mate to presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peter Obi has condemned violent attacks and looting of shops belonging to Igbo people and others in Lagos.

He said hoodlums venting anger on traders during the presidential election was not a positive development in the country electoral process, warning those behind such acts to desist for peace to reign in the country.

Fielding questions from journalists yesterday in Onitsha, Obi cautioned against a repeat of such attacks during the Saturday, March 9 exercise, insisting that the nation’s democracy guarantees people’s freedom of movement, speech and religion among other human rights.

He argued that anybody, especially those with their permanent voter cards (PVCs) are free to come out and cast their vote for anybody of their choice, saying, “I call on people, especially the Igbos resident in Lagos to come out en-masse to vote for the PDP. They should ignore any threat from anybody.

Everybody in Nigeria is free to vote anywhere he resides and registered for election”, just as he appealed to those he called troublemakers not to victimise anybody for expressing his/her political rights.

Besides, victory for Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate will fast-track socio-economic transformation and serve as the needed impetus for the party to consolidate on its current development strides for the greater welfare of the people.

Grand patron of the Buhari/Osinbajo Mandate Group, Chief Lanre Razak, the who stated this, also urged the people to shun all forms of electoral malpractices including thuggery, rigging, snatching of ballot boxes and violence recently experienced in parts of the country during the just concluded elections.

He commended the electorates in Lagos State for voting massively for the President Muhammadu Buhari/Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo ticket and the APC candidates at the February 23 presidential and National Assembly polls.

Razak, a former commissioner for public transportation in the state, believes that given Sanwo-Olu’s track record of meritorious service both as former astute banker and rich experience in Lagos public sector for many years, the APC candidate has the capacity, experience and integrity to consolidate on the numerous legacies of former governors Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Raji Fashola, as well as the incumbent Akinwunmi Ambode.

Meanwhile, former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of All Progressives Congress (APC), Timi Frank has described the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as an outfit dedicated to hunt members of the opposition political parties.

Frank in statement said the agency has not only lost its core mandate, but it has become a tool in the hands of President Muhammadu Buhari to harass and intimidate opposition members.

He was reacting to the latest arrest of Tanimu Turaki, who is Deputy Director General of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council.