“I have been your Governor for almost four years, promoting harmony and friendship across ethnic and religious lines without any form of discrimination whatsoever”
Following reported skirmishes and violent attacks in some parts of Lagos State on Monday on the outcome of Saturday’s polls, Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has appealed for calm among residents.
Persecondnews reported that igbo people were being attacked in some areas for not voting the All Progressiives Congress (APC) in the elections widely won by the Labour Party’s Presidential Candidate, Mr Peter Obi in the state.
He had pushed his counterpart in the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to the second position with both sharing the 20 local government areas.
The Lagos State INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner announced that Obi polled 582,664 votes in nine local government areas of the state while Tinubu, who scored 541,850 was able to grab 11 local government areas.
Sanwo-Olu said in a terse five-paragraph statement personally signed by him and emailed to Persecondnews on Monday: “We have got reports of friction in some parts of Lagos this morning. All is calm now.
“There is no need for violence, which is not part of our culture.
“I urge all Lagosians to go about their businesses without any fear of harassment. Law enforcement agencies have been asked to ensure that there is no breakdown of law and order in any part of the state.
“I have been your Governor for almost four years, promoting harmony and friendship across ethnic and religious lines without any form of discrimination whatsoever.
“Let us remain calm. All will be well. We are a peaceful people and so we shall remain.”
Earlier, Tinubu, apparently feeling upbeat after losing Lagos State to Labour Party’s Peter Obi, had urged his supporters to maintain calm, quiet and peace.
Tinubu spoke against the backdrop of reports that some Igbo residents were attacked in some parts of Lagos State on Monday.
A statement by Mr Bayo Onanuga, the Director, Media and Publicity of
APC Presidential Campaign Council released hours after Obi was announced winner, Tinubu asked that the outcome of the election should not be a source of provocation.
The fact that the APC narrowly lost Lagos State to another party should not be the reason for violence.
“As a democrat, you win some, you lose some. We must allow the process to continue unhindered across the country while we maintain peace and decorum,” Persecondnews quotes from the statement.
Tinubu appealed to Lagosians to eschew any act that can lead to breakdown of law and order.
“The beauty of democracy is that people have a right to vote for the candidate of their choice.
“As a democrat he is bound to accept the outcome of any election whether favourable or not.
“I condemn any form of violence against people of any ethnic group in Lagos.
The fact that the APC narrowly lost Lagos State to another party should not be the reason for violence.
“As a democrat, you win some, you lose some. We must allow the process to continue unhindered across the country while we maintain peace and decorum,” Tinubu said.
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