Afenifere, a pan-Yoruba sociopolitical organization, has warned politicians from all political parties about the escalating verbal and physical attacks that have characterized election campaigns.
Afenifere asked political parties and candidates to focus on issues affecting Nigerians and propose answers to the country’s numerous challenges in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, on Sunday.
Ajay also asked the presidential candidates to refrain from saying or doing anything that might be considered “de-marketing of opponents and possibly causing bodily harm to other individuals.”
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He claimed that some candidates’ and their spokespersons’ verbal attacks are urging their supporters to attack opponents in a way that could result in bloodshed.
Ajayi went on to say that despite many peace treaties made by presidential aspirants and others, Afenifere was concerned about the rising violence.
Between October 8 and November 9, Nigeria documented 52 instances of political violence across 22 states, according to National Security Adviser Major General Babagana Monguno (retired).
The statement read, “Candidates and political parties that have good programmes to execute would not resort to verbal or physical attacks.
“We urge political parties and their candidates to focus on what plans they have to put an end to or at least ameliorate the sufferings of Nigerians.
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“They should let us know that they understand the enormity of the problems facing us and that they have solutions to these problems.
“An end should be put to mutual self-abuse either verbally or physically.”
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