By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

Pastor Steve Nwabuko has called on the Lagos state government to ensure the safety of lives and properties of all citizens resident in Lagos.

He made the call on Monday following pockets of attack on Igbo people during the course of the presidential election held on Saturday, February 25th, 2023 in Lagos.

He said the security agencies must be proactive in taking stringent measures to forestall anticipated actions of street urchins and veiled hired fighters of political parties wanting to disrupt public order, peace and harmony.

In a statement he co-sighed with, Goddy Uwazurike, they pleaded with the law enforcement agencies to put adequate measures in place for peaceful hosting of the remaining elections in this 2023 election cycle.

The statement reads in part: “The wanton destruction of properties in post-election results rendition is avoidable and the targeting of Ndigbo in the fracas leaves much to be desired given that other tribes voted for the Labour Party Presidential candidate more than Ndigbo in Lagos did vote.

“It is in the public domain that the highly respected Yoruba is at the forefront of promoting the Labour Party Presidential candidate in the entire South West geopolitical zone and Nigeria which must have added value to the gains of the Labour Party by votes by mainly Yoruba and other tribes resident in Lagos.

“A lot has been achieved in brokering genuine handshake across the Niger and we urge political leaders to manage the relationship with utmost good faith.

“We plead with those injured and or who lost properties in the unwarranted attacks arising from the outcome of election results to be patient with law enforcement agencies expected to investigate and bring the perpetrators to book and never resort to self help or reprisal attacks.

“We plead with law enforcement agencies to put adequate measures in place for peaceful hosting of the remaining elections in this 2023 election cycle”.

While emphasizing that the election was a national exercise, the duo said that the metropolitan status of Lagos state does not confer advantage on non-indigenes to influence the outcome of elections nor do indigenes have a right to vent their anger for losing elections on unsuspecting innocent citizens.

The statement noted that the attacks were targeted against a particular tribe whose son recorded the highest number of votes in the Presidential election result.

The cleric lamented that the release of the Lagos state Presidential and National Assembly elections results on Monday, February 27, 2023, was heralded by pockets of violent attacks at Akpongbon, Iba, Mushin, and outskirts of Aja.

•Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State

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