A pressure gronup, Leaders After God’s Own Spirit Initiative A New State (LAGOSIANS), says political decisions in the forthcoming Governorship and House of Assembly elections in Lagos State should not lead to war.
The convener, Pastor Bolaji Akinyemi, made these remarks at a news conference on Saturday in Lagos.
Akinyemi said it was necessary to douse the ethnic and religious bigotry among politicians and their followers ahead of elections.
According to him, what is important is not politics but peaceful co-existence of people across ethnic and religious divides.
Akinyemi, also Chairman, Board of Trustees, Project Victory Corps Initiative, urged politicians to stop drumbeats of war in the name of politics.
“Political decisions should not lead us to war.
“Going through this election, we have seen dynamics in Lagos being thrown up.
“The dynamics of tribes like Igbos wanting to take over Lagos, Yorubas must not allow them and all kinds of narratives.
“I doubt if election will hold. Saturday in Lagos if we do not douse this narrative that is gaining momentum.
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“It is important that we bring everybody together and discuss the way forward.
“We must as leaders adequately carry the people along.
“We cannot have a Lagos where the Igbos cannot stay and Lagos where markets are getting burnt.
“That is not the kind of Lagos we want to live in.” the convener of Apostolic Roundtable (an independent platform for pastors) said.
He urged the youth not to follow politicians who instigate violence.
Akinyemi said politicians needed a measure of selflessness, maturity and independence in leadership.
Decying purported endorsement of some candidates by Christian bodies, Akinyemi said that such was contrary to the culture of what Christian organisations should be.
“We need to sit with our Muslim brothers to discuss how to peacefully live together without allowing political and church leaderships to compromise the peaceful existence of Lagos.
“It is the connivance of political and church leaders that are pitching us against each other,” he said.
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