Summary:
- A video featuring MC Oluomo, leader of the Lagos-based National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), has sparked controversy as he appears to threaten Igbo voters ahead of the Lagos State elections.
- The video has been widely condemned, with politicians, activists, and civil society groups calling for unity and peace.
- Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been urged to investigate the matter and ensure all eligible voters can participate without fear or intimidation.
- The incident raises concerns about the influence of non-political actors in local communities and highlights the challenge of maintaining a peaceful, free, and fair election process amid growing tensions and potential electoral violence.
Lagos, Nigeria (MandyNews.com) – A controversial video featuring Lagos-based National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) leader, Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, has surfaced online, in which he appears to threaten Igbo voters ahead of the Lagos State elections.
In the video, MC Oluomo is heard saying, “If you no wan vote for us, sit down for house,” a statement that has drawn widespread criticism and raised concerns about the potential for electoral violence.
The video, which has since gone viral on social media, has been widely condemned by political and civil society groups, as well as ordinary Nigerians who see it as an attempt to intimidate and suppress the participation of a specific ethnic group in the upcoming elections.
The Igbo community, which is one of Nigeria’s largest ethnic groups, has historically played an influential role in Lagos politics and has a significant presence in the state.
Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been urged to investigate the matter and take necessary action to ensure that all eligible voters can participate freely in the elections without fear of reprisals or intimidation.
INEC has yet to issue an official statement on the matter.
Several prominent politicians and activists have spoken out against MC Oluomo’s statement, calling for unity and peace in the lead-up to the elections.
They emphasize that Nigeria’s constitution guarantees the right to vote for all citizens, regardless of their ethnicity or place of origin.
Opposition parties have seized the opportunity to criticize the ruling party for its association with MC Oluomo, accusing them of using him as a tool to intimidate opposition supporters and create an atmosphere of fear.
The ruling party has yet to issue a response to the accusations or distance itself from MC Oluomo’s statement.
The incident has raised questions about the role of non-political actors, such as MC Oluomo, who wield significant influence in local communities and are often linked to political parties.
Some experts argue that the growing influence of such individuals poses a threat to Nigeria’s democratic process and risks further entrenching ethnic divisions and tensions.
As the Lagos State elections draw nearer, the authorities face the challenge of ensuring a peaceful, free, and fair election process in the face of growing tensions and concerns over potential electoral violence.
The incident captured on camera serves as a sobering reflection of the fine line that must be drawn in a nation as diverse as Nigeria, where the possibility of ethnic conflict is never far below the surface.
Watch the video below.
