Tinubu tells National Union of Road Transport Workers leaders not to attack Lagos Igbos on Saturday

ALL Progressives Congress (APC) leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has appealed to the members of the Lagos State chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) not to attack non-Yorubas during next weekend's governorship elections.

On Saturday March 9, Lagosians go to the polls to elect a governor and the Lagos State House of Assembly and in the run-up to the elections, tension is mounting. Over the last week, there has been palpable tension in Lagos with several APC politicians threatening the Igbo community in particular amid fears that they may vote for the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and swing the election in their favour.

In more than any other state of the federation, Igbos form a large minority in Lagos State and their votes could be a deciding factor in what is now looking like a close race between Babajide Sanwoolu of the APC and Jimi Agbaje of the PDP. Last weekend, Mr Sanwoolu met with Igbo leaders in Lagos to strike a deal that would involve them voting for him in exchange for six commissioner appointments.

NURTW members are traditionally used as thugs to attack political opponents during elections in Nigeria are there are mounting fears that several APC politicians might use them next weekend. In a bid to douse the tension, Asiwaju Tinubu has held a meeting with the NURTW leaders at his Bourdillon residence where he apparently urged them not to destabilise the peace of the state during Saturday’s elections.

Two weeks ago, during the presidential and National Assembly elections, NURTW members harassed Igbo traders especially in Mushin, Surulere and Oshodi areas of Lagos State. They were also involved in  ballot box snatching in areas that were PDP strongholds, which voted against the APC.

Yesterday, Asiwaju Tinubu expressed his displeasure over the rumoured attacks on non-indigenes in some parts of the state during and after the presidential and National Assembly elections by members of the union. He added that Igbo residents in Lagos are free to vote for any candidate of their choice during the elections.

Asiwaju Tinubu who said elections should not cause disunity and war among Nigerians, also warned the leaders of the union against incidents of ballot box snatching, intimidation and harassment of voters, saying anyone who engages in such acts will have himself to blame. During the meeting, Asiwaju Tinubu also appealed to the leaders to enjoin their members to vote for Mr Sanwoolu to ensure continuity of good governance in the state.

One source at the meeting said:  “It was a very brief meeting and he didn’t mince words in telling them that he will not condone attacks on non-indigenes, especially Igbo residents in the state. He said they are free to vote for any political party or candidates of their choice without threats of harassment and intimidations from anyone in the state.

“He also warned the union leaders to ensure that none of their members in their domains engaged in incidents of ballot snatching or violence in any form. He asked them not to interfere in any way with the voting process, warning that anyone caught causing mayhem will have himself to blame."

Already, the PDP has warned that the APC is plotting to destabilise the governorship elections. Kola Ologbondiyan, the party’s national publicity secretary, said reports from parts of the country indicate that the APC is working towards causing havoc in Lagos and south-south states.

Mr Ologbondiyan added: “We just hope that the APC will not turn our nation into a keg of gunpowder. For us in the PDP, it is worrisome that APC is deliberately working towards havoc on the election day but whoever sows the wind will reap the whirlwind and the earlier that the APC allows for a peaceful election, the better for all of us and our nation.”