Three days to the governorship and state assembly polls, leaders of ethnic groups, community-based organisations, civil society and artisans have appealed to Nigerians, especially those in Lagos State to sheath their sword and allow peace to reign.
At a meeting on the emerging threats of ethnic violence, which was facilitated by Journalists for Democratic Rights (JODER), the leaders urged promoters of violence and extremism, who they said are few, “not to equate the extremist opinions of fringe elements with the popular opinion of the peoples they claim to represent”.
The leaders also set up Action Committee to work in identified troubled areas to prevent ethnic or religious conflict with all our strength for the peace and prosperity of mankind.
The full statement
A Call for Restrain, Peace and Conflict Prevention
Aware that the gubernatorial election holds across the country on 18 March 2023;
Conscious of the fact that the debate on the gubernatorial election has been most intense in some parts of the country including but not limited to Lagos, the Nigerian economic hub and the largest city state in Africa;
Knowing that the socio-developments in Nigeria, from time immemorial usually have far reaching consequences on West Africa Regional Stability;
Aware that in the past few weeks, tension has been stoked across the country and many residents, including Lagos are awed by the avalanche of discord over the State Gubernatorial elections which has spilled over into ethnic and religious brawl;
Aware that violence is an ill-wind that blows no one any good and a threat to stability and livelihood;
We, leaders of ethnic-based organisations, civil society, cultural, artisan and faith based community groups hereby assert as follows:
That the anti-people policies of various governments in Nigeria has impoverished many Nigerians almost turning them to scavengers in their own motherland with dare consequences on social stability;
That deprivation, exploitation and exclusion have continued to worsen the economic and social conditions of many Nigerians coupled, in recent times, with the subversive Cash swap policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) which disempowers Nigerians and diminishes their humanity;
That corruption, mismanagement and ineptitude of the ruling class continue to open up the seal giving rise to violent expressions of economic, religious and ethnic nature;
That land, resource management, and allocation, exclusion of indigenous peoples remains a major source of friction across Nigeria;
That we recognise the rights of indigenous peoples as contained in the Universal Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples adopted in 2007 by the United Nations and other international instruments promoting the rights of indigenous peoples all over the world including indigenous peoples in Nigeria;
That deprivation of indigenous peoples from social, political and economic rights, denial of access to ancestral land, evacuation and all sorts of anti-people policies are real and continue to undermine their livelihood and survival as a people;
We recognise the unique history of indigenous towns and communities in Nigeria including in Lagos, Sokoto, Kano, Enugu, Nguru, Yenogoa being ancient dominion dating back to centuries with her own culture, history, heritage, spirituality and civilisations;
That we recognise the fact that every territory in Nigeria has her own culture, first nations and indigenous peoples;
That we recoginse the infallible fact of history that in Lagos, the Awori, a sub-Yoruba ethnic group, having been acclaimed as the indigenous people of Lagos recognising also that Lagos State territories like Epe, Ikorodu and Badagry have their own indigenous peoples that have lived in these territories since the primordial times;
That we recognise the rights of peoples of diverse ethnic backgrounds according to the dictates of the Nigerian constitution to live anywhere of their choice within Nigeria without disrespecting the dominant cultures;
That the Nigerian constitution is clear on the right of Nigerians to seek elective positions according to the laws enshrined in the Constitution without hindrance leaving the choice to the electorate to decide out of their free, prior and informed consent;
That we are worried about the slide into hate and disdainful, provocative statements by political and social media actors some of whose actions are fueled by mischief, propaganda and conscious lies aimed at spurring ethnic violence and conflict across Nigeria;
That the promoters of violence and extremism are few. We urge all ethnic groups not to equate the extremist opinions of fringe elements with the popular opinion of the peoples they claim to represent;
Our appeal goes to all Nigerians, especially in Lagos irrespective of faith, ethnicity and creed to sheath their sword and allow peace to reign;
That we commit ourselves to preventing violence and conflict before and after the Gubernatorial election while any group or persons disturbed with the election outcome should seek redress in court;
That we hereby agree to embark on massive campaigns, through pamphleteering, advocacy visits, door-to-door engagements to stall any plot to cause disaffection, ethnic or religious strife between Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa, Ijaw, Urhobo, Ogoni, Andoni, and other ethnic groups Lagos or elsewhere before, during the after the Presidential election;
That we hereby set up Action Committee to work in identified troubled areas to prevent ethnic or religious conflict with all our strength for the peace and prosperity of mankind.
Signed
1) Convener, Adewale Adeoye, Journalists for Democratic Rights (JODER)
2) David Ajetumobi
Nigerian Automobilse Technicians Association
3) Segun Ajomole ANACOWA Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association
4) Konoun Marshal Movement for the Survival of Ijaw Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta
5) Ade Ikuesan National Association of Nigerian Motorcycles Riders
6) Digital Werimipre, Egbesu Supreme Assembly
7) Rasaq Arogundade Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC New Era)
8) Sunday Akinnuoye Network of Yoruba Alliance (NENA)
9) Dim Uche Okwukwu, Ohanaeze Ndigbo
10) Taofik Adeyemi Oodua Peoples Congress (Reformed)
11) Mallam Shetima Yerima Arewa Youth Consultative Forum
12) Col Tony Nyiam, NADECO
13) Segun Adeola Oodua Nationalist Coalition
14) Ashipa Eniola Professional Hunters Association of Nigeria
15) Akin Oloniyi, Vigilante Group of Nigeria
16) Uche Okereke Civil Society Caolition for Mandate Protection
17) Chief Kunle Oshodi, Agbekoya
18) Eric Oluwole Coalition of Yoruba Youths
19) Seargent Loba, Ogoni Youth Front
20) Popoola Ajayi, All Yoruba Democratic Movements
21) Dr Kola Afolabi, Covenant Group
22) United Middle Belt Indigenous Peoples Congress
23) Kudu Abubakar, NUPE Congress
