Group cautions politicians against inciting statements, promoting violence
NAN-H-72
Caution
By Bolaji Buhari
Lagos, May 11, 2017 (NAN) A socio-cultural group, Concerned Omo Odua Progressive Youth Assembly (COPYA) has cautioned politicians against making statements capable of creating tension in the country or inciting people to violence.
The President-General of the group, Mr Kola Salawu, gave the caution at a news conference on Thursday in Lagos.
He said the group was dismayed about comments made by some politicians on sensitive national issues in recent times, which had promoted tension rather than keeping people together.
Salawu said that such unguarded statements had the tendency to fuel ethnic violence in some parts of the country.
“For us in the Concerned Omoodua Progressive Youth Assembly, this kind of behaviour is unpatriotic and indicative of some mental imbalance.
“Promoting hatred and violence under any guise is therefore something that no Nigerian or Yoruba will be happy to be associated with. Such is our sense of culture and civility,” he said.
Salawu said the group would continue to voice out its opposition to any acts capable of undermining the country’s unity.
He expressed the group’s support for the president and his Vice, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, saying both men exemplified impactful leadership.
Salawu said sentiments expressed in some quarters on whether the vice president is acting president or coordinator were orchestrated to drive a wedge between him and the president.
He said Buhari had fulfilled the provisions of the constitution by transfer of power as a result of his medical trip to London.
Salawu urged Osinbajo to remain focused, saying the group trusted in his ability to hold sway for the president in his absence. (NAN)
BHB/ENN/SOA
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Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu/Oluwole Sogunle