Member representing Ifako-Ijaiye constituency I at the Lagos State House of Assembly Hon Temitope Adewale has declared that ethnic and religious cards are not needed in politics, describing it as inimical to existing harmonious relations amidst the people.
Adewale the House Committee Chairman on transportation made the assertion while chatting with newsmen after casting his vote at polling unit 005,Ward 6, Ifako-Ijaiye on Saturday March 18th, 2023.
The lawmaker who traced the divisive tendencies stoked by playing of the ethnic and religious cards to the door steps of political leaders, noted that there are lot more gains attainable in the diverse tribes and cultures, if in unity as in time past.
“Firstly two things should not be involved in the polity; religion and ethnicity, they have no place in politics but our leaders today have taken advantage of that situation.
“Speaking on behalf of Ifako-Ijaiye, Ifako-Ijaiye have been in existence for a while and we’ve lived harmoniously with all tribes so it has nothing to do with just the Ibo tribe.
“We have the Hausa, Nupe,Calabari, the South South and many other tribes also living in the local government and we’ve all lived together as one in peace.
“Two weeks ago we have the Ibo community came here enmasse with their rally to support us, though some would support while some would not support. Even in our own state, we have our yoruba brothers fighting and not supporting one another.
“So those who played the religion and tribal cards in politics should desist, I think this two aspect should be left alone.
“We should focus on what can be delivered in terms of dividend of democracy to the people rather than go into religion and tribal thing. I think they should stay away from it.
“Now even the Ibos are supporting Sanwo-Olu, Temitope Adewale and other candidates in many other places.
“If you checked the ballot papers even where we feel the Ibos are highly concentrated like Amuwo-Odofin and other areas, you will find out that even the Labour Party which they wish to support fielded Yoruba candidates.
“We have to be very careful. The media should not propagate or promote this ethnic cards.
“Moving forward a lot of things will come in place and I am sure Nigerians will enjoy the dividends of democracy under his excellency Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu the president elect of Nigeria.” Adewale reiterated.
Adewale also charged all electorates to vote Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu back as the number one man in the state, citing the need for him to consolidate on all the gains of his first tenure.
“There is room for improvement but so far we’ve been able to achieve a lot in terms of infrastructure developments, roads, we have our stadium coming up, we have our bus terminal, rail terminal, we have three schools already rehabilitated.
“We’ve been given to the community to the welfare of the people the aged, widows, health insurance and all others these are some of the things we wish to expand the net, so that more people can begin to enjoy the dividends of democracy.
“We have the Iju bridge, Fagbohun and Londoner bridge coming all approved and so this is the reason why we came out to ensure we vote Babajide Sanwo-Olu in for continuity so he can consolidate on gains of the first tenure.
Also speaking to the visible demeaning voter apathy witnessed, Adewale describes as a quite sad development that youths chose to have their interhouse sport on election days.
He cited the fact that given the numbers of PVCs collected the garnered votes are not at all commensurate.
“A lot of our youths still don’t understand the essence of voting.
“ I realized that it is during the election days that we have our youths doing their own interhouse sport, when they decide to play football on the streets.
“It is a sad thing and you will be surprised that most of them don’t have their PVCs. So they are not engineered to go out and vote.
“It is tough call but we have to continue to encourage them on why they have to exercise their franchise.
“If you checked the number of those that collected PVCs compared to the numbers of votes garnered in Lagos it is sad, less than 10 percent but I think moving forward we need to re-orientate our youths to also get them involved in registering and casting their ballots,which is their civic responsibility.”