… worries over Oro, Egungun festivals in Lagos on election day
Juliana Francis
The Executive Director of Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), Mr Okechukwu Nwanguma, has expressed fear for voters’ safety in tomorrow’s election, following the threat of Musiliu Akinsanya, otherwise known as MC Oluomo, head of the Garden and Parks in Lagos State and the planned Oro and Egungun festivals.
Olumo in a viral video threatened Igbos in Lagos State, to stay at their homes if they would not vote for the candidate of the All Progressives Congress in tomorrow’s gubernatorial and state assembly elections.
Nwanguma, who said that he was perturbed by these unfolding developments in Lagos and other states in Nigeria, added that security was still a major issue hour to the Saturday Governorship and State Assembly elections.
He said: “There are security concerns and fears across the states. In Imo State, security agencies are tools in the hands of the state government to harass, intimate and put political opponents out of circulation. In Lagos, well-known political thugs are openly threatening people they describe as non-indigenes and non-original Yoruba and warning them not to come out to vote if they are not voting for their preferred political party and candidate.
“MC Oluomo has been seen in viral videos threatening non-indigenes and non-original Yoruba residents, warning them not to come out to vote if they are not coming to vote for APC. Baales are suddenly announcing Oro and Egungu Festivals on election day in some parts of Lagos which means people will not come out to vote. This is a strategy for voter suppression. Police authorities are not taking actions to reassure people that they are capable of and willing to guarantee security for all stakeholders without bias.”
According to the activist, security was critical for free, fair, peaceful, and credible elections.
