Former Deputy National chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Bode George has described the Saturday’s gubernatorial election in Lagos State as sham and utter disgrace to democracy in Nigeria
The PDP leader in a press statement on Sunday said that he felt so shattered, so heartbroken that Nigeria’s democracy is now in shambles.
“What a disgrace! I am close to 80 years now but never in my life have I seen such a despicable and dishonourable way of not allowing people express their right to elect whoever they want. This election, in some places, was completely shambolic. What is going on?
“It is disheartening that Lagos State, the bastion of civility, humility, decorum, harmony and respect for the rule of law was, on Saturday, turned to a den of lunatics during the governorship and House of Assembly elections,” he said.
Atona Odua of Yoruba land added, “This is no longer democracy. What happened on Saturday, March 18 in Lagos State was utter lunacy, a complete sham perpetrated by demented souls. Our forefathers who founded Lagos, the Aworis and others, will be angry in their graves at those power-hungry fellows who turned everything upside down in their quest to retain power at all cost.
“We all know that ‘Oro’ is done in a rural setting, and at night. But in Lagos, we saw some ‘Oro’ worshippers – fake or real – invoking spiritual insults on other Nigerians in broad daylight. This is a bastardisation of our culture and tradition.
George stated that other states are running their elections smoothly and democratically without violence but the reverse is the case in Lagos.
He said, “During the presidential and National Assembly elections on February 25, soldiers were seen on the road and there was civility. Thugs didn’t mess up. There was complete peace. So, who ordered that the soldiers should be withdrawn during the governorship and House of Assembly elections? Was their withdrawal ordered to ensure that thugs had a field day, snatching and burning ballot boxes and papers?
“When are we going to be civil in our approach to constitutional democracy?
This is not the Lagos we used to be proud of. This election is a total disgrace to the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a party and Nigeria as a country.
“Due to threats from thugs, many potential voters returned home in anger without voting.
“In many polling units, we watched videos of snatching of ballot boxes/papers by APC thugs. Ballot boxes and papers were also burnt.
While lamenting the activities of thugs, George stated that thugs were seen with dangerous weapons invading polling units, threatening voters to either vote for APC or leave, while some voters were matcheted and shot.
“The tragic comedy of the electoral charade was witnessed when a couple was turned back from a polling unit by APC thugs because they look like Igbo. Whereas they are full blooded Yoruba.
Sisi Yemmie, the affected woman, said in a video which has gone viral: “I was born in Lagos. I am a Lagos woman. This is my village but I was not allowed to vote because I don’t look like a Yoruba. My husband and I were not allowed to vote. They said we look like Igbo people. I can’t believe this,” the statement further reads.
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