Osinbajo
A pan-Igbo sociopolitical pressure
group, the South East Revival Group (SERG) has urged Vice President
Yemi Osinbajo and Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State to exercise
restraint in their utterances as the country goes into general
elections next to avoid pitching their Yoruba ethnic group against
the Igbos.
The
national coordinator of SERG, Chief Willy Ezugwu in a statement
issued in Abuja on Monday recalled that "while speaking at the
Alaafin's palace, the Vice President had urged the Yoruba
to vote for President Muhammadu Buhari to pave way for Yoruba
presidency in 2023, but Governor Ajimobi took the narrative higher by
declaring that the 2019 election was between the Hausa and Yoruba
alliance on one hand and the Hausa and Igbo on the other.
"We
condemn in strongest terms possible this brand of ethnic politics and
this unprovoked and unjustified attacks on Igbos by the two Yoruba
leaders. Such utterances can spake ethnic cleansing or inter tribal
crisis.
"Nigerian leaders must live by example and avoid hate speech
ahead of 2019 general elections. This is important because we must
have a country first before we can think of who rules over its
affairs.
"Nigeria is bigger than our regional ethnic sentiments. We
should rather focus on issues of justice and peaceful coexistence to
save the country from disintegration.
"At any cost, Nigerian leaders who truly love this country must
avoid fanning the embers of ethnicity just to win elections. Such
seed may give you victory but it will ultimately sow distrust among
ethnic groups in the country.
"At no time in this country were we more divided along ethnic
lines than today. It is dangerous for the survival of Nigeria and
inimical to national security and development", the SERG
stated.
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