The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos has condemned the post-election hate speeches and fake news propagated on various social media platforms and media spaces by the opposition parties.
These were highlighted by the Publicity Secretary of APC Lagos Chapter, Hon. Seye Oladejo, at a press conference held on Thursday at IKeja to review the election, comments, and false allegations by opposition parties
On the ethnic politics by the Labour Party candidate in the state Oladejo stated that “When he started his campaign, he was Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour. He soon metamorphosed into Chinedu Rhodes-Vivour and, with his mother, was campaigning in areas seen as having heavy Igbo population, adopting Igbo as the language of communication”.
“The candidate, who does not speak Yoruba, showed his resentment for the people he desired to lead when he retorted that “I don’t think in Yoruba” – in reply to a reporter’s question. His supporters latched on to his body language and disposition to taunt the Yoruba and other Lagosians by proclaiming that Lagos is a no-man’s land.
“Following the same script, LP presidential candidate Peter Obi campaigned only in markets dominated by people from a section of the country when he visited Lagos.
“Mr. Chinedu Rhodes-Vivour played a prominent role in the in the #EndSARS protest, a peaceful action, which became a veneer for the destruction of public and private assets when it was hijacked by hoodlums. Lagos lost many of its cherished assets. The DNA laboratory (the first of its kind in West Africa) was burnt down; the iconic Lagos High Court, one of the most recognizable buildings in Nigeria, was razed. So was City Hall, which was established in 1900. Hundreds of brand-new high-capacity BRT buses, among other assets, were burnt in the orgy of madness from which our dear state is yet to recover.
“However, it is to be noted that Mr. Chinedu is not the only Yoruba of mixed race in politics. Besides, there are people of Igbo parentage who are very dear to the heart of Lagosians. Many have held positions in the Lagos State Cabinet and Agencies,”
He averred “Comparing the last three elections- 2015, 2019 and 2023 and using the leading three political parties, one can safely conclude that the 2023 election is the most credible, freest and fairest. While 29,432,083 and 28,614,190 votes were cast in 2015, 2019, a total 24, 965,218 votes were cast in 2023. The margin of victory in 2015, 2019 and 2023 are 2,571,759, 3,928,869 and 1,810, 206, representing 53.9% in 2015, 55.6% in 2019 and 36.6% in 2023”.
“What the above numbers say to us is that the BVAS introduced by INEC helped tremendously in ensuring that only registered voters accredited and captured by the machine could vote. The BVAS recorded 88% success rate in the 176, 606 polling units across the nation. BVAS malfunctioned in 9% of polling units and was fixed. BVAS was replaced in 2% of polling units where it malfunctioned. In our view, INEC deserves some applause for this feat”.
“The reforms also ensured that violence was reduced to the barest minimum. It is very sad and unfortunate that 13 deaths were recorded in electoral violence in the 2023 elections; no life should be lost at all. Every death mocks our humanity, but compared to 150 in 2019, 100 in 2015, 800 in 2011, 300 in 2007, 100 in 2003 80 in 1999, we have made some progress. The security agencies should be commended for a job well done”.
He commended the Security Agents for their conduct during the elections. “They were professional, especially in Lagos State, despite attempts by some people to create an atmosphere of fear and violence. The security agencies were prompt in nipping crises in the bud in flashpoints. They maintained decorum in the face of confrontation in some areas”.
He also called the attention of the security agencies to meetings held on Twitter Space aimed at mobilizing unsuspecting people for demonstrations to destabilise and destroy Lagos.
He however urged the police and other security agencies to go a step further to curbing the excesses of warmongers and scaremongers who are desperate in their bid to foment trouble in the State.
Oladejo noted, “We condemn the post-election hate speeches and fake news still being promoted in various media spaces.
“May I alert the security agencies by calling their attention to meetings on Twitter Space towards mobilizing unsuspecting people for demonstrations aimed at destroying Lagos State, a replica of the #EndSARS saga.
“It should be noted that the general elections were held throughout the nation and the law provides for those not satisfied with the conduct of the exercise to approach the court of law as it is done in civilized climes. Any approach contrary to this under any guise should be viewed seriously.”
He affirmed that “As a progressive party whose most of its leaders were in the trenches with you in the struggle for democracy, we are not disappointed in your tenacity to ensure that the hard-won freedom is not lost to the greed and shameful desperation of those who were in the warmth of their bed when the battle was hot”.
“We don’t expect them to protect what they don’t value, but we shall never yield the space to them to take the nation back to the years of the locusts. NEVER” Oladejo concluded.
Also at the press briefing were the Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, Vice Chairman APC Lagos State Moshood Mayegun and a host of others.
Omotoso said efforts by the opposition parties to discredit the victory of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu would fail, saying the exercise was free, fair, transparent and credible
