As the 2023 general elections draw near, the South West zonal chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission have called on voters in the region to come out en masse to participate in the general election and also ensure that South West is not turned to a theatre of war.
The party and the commission made the call in separate statements on Sunday.
The APC in the statement by its regional publicity secretary, Mr Ayo Afolabi, condemned the implementation of the naira redesign policy, stressing that its authors have ulterior motive. It appealed to the masses to maintain peace in the face of the provocation.
The party said voters in the region should not give in to apathy but troop out in large numbers to exercise their civic rights to elect the next set of leaders.
“It is now clear as daylight that those that sold this policy to President Buhari are exploiting Mr. President’s statesmanship to achieve their hidden agenda, which is to incite Nigerians against the APC as a party and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“Among all the presidential candidates, only Asiwaju Tinubu is pleading on the side of the hapless masses, while the rest, especially the PDP candidate, Atiku Abubakar, does not care what becomes of the hapless masses that bear the brunt of this policy.
“We sympathise with millions of Nigerians whose means of livelihood have been threatened by this policy, especially farmers, transporters, livestock dealers, POS operators, retail grocers and traders. We assure them of Asiwaju Tinubu’s commitment to ensuring they bounce back and better.
“We therefore call on residents to see beyond this shenanigan and refuse to give in to apathy. We call on them to troop out and vote for the APC on Feb 25th to herald in the era of ‘renewed hope,’ which Asiwaju Tinubu has promised and which he is capable of delivering,” the statement read in part.
In a statement by its director general, Mr Seye Oyeleye, DAWN Commission called on the Western Nigeria public to focus on the region’s security and sustainability as a composite unit and reinforce its uniqueness as a welcoming, tolerant and law-abiding space where the peaceful coexistence and welfare of all residents, irrespective of their ethnic origin and tongue, is paramount.
“The commission aligns with the position the Southern Governors Forum and that of 11 governors from the northern part of the country in backing the need for a southern successor to President Muhammadu Buhari. Since making their declarations, the stance has gained majority backing and consensual popularity.
“The commission, as a development-focused agency, readily supports initiatives that promote the development of our space. Therefore, the commission supports this governors’ stance for power shift to Southern Nigeria, as a necessity to strengthen Nigeria’s democracy and engender political stability, without which there can be no development.
“The commission reminds particularly Western Nigerian voters to vote in a manner that guarantees stability and tranquility, thereby ensuring the continuity of various strategic ongoing economic development projects in the region: Lekki Deep-Sea Port, Lekki Free Trade Zone, Lagos Atlantic City, Cargo Airport, Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone, Agro Quality Assurance Center in Ogun State, Ibadan Circular road in Oyo State, the commencement of the Ondo deep sea port in Ondo State etc.
“The commission therefore calls on all Nigerian voters, especially the Western Nigerian voters, to remain law abiding in this difficult period, occasioned by the CBN’s naira redesign policy and vote peacefully for political stability by choosing from among the presidential candidates a candidate that reflects the fairness espoused in the popular position of the Southern Governors’ Forum and the 11 governors from the northern part of the country.
“The commission is saddened by the CBN’s lack of a contingency plan in executing the Naira redesign policy at a time of unbearable fuel scarcity. The combination of these has brought unthinkable hardship – in the form of lost man-hours and economic deprivations – on hapless Nigerians, such as is fathomable only in war-torn countries, thereby fueling protests and other forms of civil disobedience.
“The commission commends the public figures, who at great risk, have taken sides with the Nigerian masses by not only condemning the timing of this well-intentioned but badly executed policy but also proffering ameliorative steps. Conversely, we condemn, as unworthy of public trust, those who have continued to support it because of morsels of political gain.
“The commission commends the efforts of our state governors, individuals and concerned groups and their respective state and non-state actions to promote peace and harmony in the region.
“The commission warns that it is undesirous that the South West region, or indeed any part of Nigeria, should be made the epicenter of chaos and protest. This region is open for business and as a way of repetition open to all that is ready contribute to its continued development; we take umbrage at anyone or group of people who might want to capitalize on the current challenges confronting us as a nation, to turn our space into a theatre of anything goes; the sound and steps of the macabre dance will not be heard nor tolerated and DAWN Commission also calls on all those with influence, including political, religious and traditional leaders, at local and international levels, to exercise and encourage restraint and to refrain from incitement, hostility or violence, even in moments of outrage and frustration,” the statement read.
