Bola Tinubu’s plea for reconciliation following a violent election has been criticised by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar as the height of hypocrisy. Tinubu’s remark and demand for national interest and togetherness, according to Abubakar, is nothing more than hypocritical nonsense.
Recall that on Tuesday, the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, denounced the violence that tainted the governorship and state assembly elections on Saturday and urged those impacted to put aside their disagreements for the benefit of the country’s unity and interest.
The physical and verbal abuse of voters during the polls, according to Tinubu, was inappropriate and contrary to the democratic culture. He said that he intended to introduce the diversity and unity promoted by his government in Lagos into national governance so that everyone with the same opportunities could participate.
Atiku’s special assistant for public communication, Phrank Shaibu, praised the US government for its statement condemning the bloody and racially charged election in Lagos State but felt that it should have gone further by naming those found responsible and disclosing the identities of those who will be subject to visa restrictions.
READ ALSO: 2023 Presidential Election: Atiku, Obi Challenge Tinubu’s Victory
Atiku’s assistant claimed that Tinubu’s election campaign showed that he was not interested in unifying Nigeria and was just concerned with power and the country’s wealth. He insisted that there could be no reconciliation unless restitution was made. Anything less, he claimed, wouldn’t help any wounds to mend.
As Tinubu’s language of reconciliation looks odd after his minions assaulted Igbo voters in Lagos to give his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), an edge in the governorship race, Shaibu said that Tinubu’s comment was an afterthought and hypocritical nonsense.
Shaibu claims that Tinubu has continued to defend politicians, traditional leaders, and even transport hooligans in Lagos who have been captured on camera threatening non-indigenous people.
The statement is as follows: “Tinubu’s latest statement is laced with hypocrisy and lies. For a whole month, traditional leaders, transport hooligans and politicians in his camp threatened non-indigenes but Tinubu kept mute. His lackey, MC Oluomo, who is a member of his Presidential campaign council, was seen on video threatening Igbo people but Tinubu said nothing. His campaign spokesmen, Bayo Onanuga and Femi Fani-Kayode, went on social media to warn Igbo people against exercising their franchise but Tinubu looked the other way”.
“Traditional rulers imposed curfews and went about slaughtering goats and placing them in front of polling units but Tinubu said nothing. A traditional leader and council chairman in Gbara community, Eti Osa local government summoned non-indigenes to a meeting where they threatened non-indigenes with eviction if they failed to vote for the APC but Tinubu said nothing. Those invited by the police ignored invitations because Tinubu was shielding them”.
“On the day of election, many people who looked Igbo were beaten and prevented from voting but Tinubu kept mute. Now that his party has stolen the election, he has found his voice and is preaching reconciliation. He should tell that to the marines. If Tinubu is serious, he should ensure that all those found culpable are arrested and prosecuted. But we know he cannot do this because he is their godfather”
.”We commend the US and the EU governments for condemning the violence and intimidation that marred the governorship election especially in Lagos where Tinubu’s henchmen held the state to ransom”.
“But the US knows the identities of the perpetrators of violence and ought to have mentioned their names. MC Oluomo is an American citizen. The US must also go further by mentioning the names of others including the traditional rulers in Lagos who were complicit”.
“The US has in the past openly condemned Vladmir Putin of Russia and others found wanting in other countries. This is not the time for political correctness. Those who will be slammed with visa bans should be named and shamed”.
