Ahead of the Saturday's governorship and House of Assembly elections, a coalition of ethnic and community-based organisations, civil society organisations and artisan led associations has called on residents of Lagos State to sheath their sword and allow peace to reign.
The coalition which made the appeal in statement issued on Tuesday, expressed apprehension over hate, disdainful and provocative statements by political and social media actors.
The coalition in a joint statement on gubernatorial elections and the emerging threats of ethnic violence, facilitated by Journalists For Democratic Rights (JODER), announced that they would commence advocacy visits, door-to-door engagements to stall any plot to cause disaffection, ethnic or religious strife between Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa, Ijaw, Urhobo, Ogoni, Andoni, and other ethnic groups in Lagos or elsewhere during and after the elections.
The statement partly read, "Aware that violence is an ill-wind that blows no one any good and a threat to stability and livelihood; we, leaders of ethnic-based organisations, civil society, cultural, artisan and faith based community groups hereby assert as follows:
"That the anti-people policies of various governments in Nigeria have impoverished many Nigerians almost turning them to scavengers in their own motherland with dare consequences on social stability.
"That deprivation, exploitation and exclusion have continued to worsen the economic and social conditions of many Nigerians coupled, in recent times, with the subversive Cash swap policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN which disempowers Nigerians and diminishes their humanity.
"That corruption, mismanagement and ineptitude of the ruling class continue to open up the seal giving rise to violent expressions of economic, religious and ethnic nature.
"That land, resource management, and allocation, exclusion of indigenous peoples remains a major source of friction across Nigeria.
"That we recognise the rights of indigenous peoples as contained in the Universal Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples adopted in 2007 by the United Nations and other international instruments promoting the rights of indigenous peoples all over the world including indigenous peoples in Nigeria
"That deprivation of indigenous peoples from social, political and economic rights, denial of access to ancestral land, evacuation and all sorts of anti-people policies are real and continue to undermine their livelihood and survival as a people.
"We recognise the unique history of indigenous towns and communities in Nigeria including in Lagos, Sokoto, Kano, Enugu, Nguru, Yenogoa being ancient dominion dating back to centuries with her own culture, history, heritage, spirituality and civilizations."
They added, "that we recognise the fact that every territory in Nigeria has her own culture, first nations and indigenous peoples. That we recoginse the infallible fact of history that in Lagos, the Awori, a sub-Yoruba ethnic group, having been acclaimed as the indigenous people of Lagos recognising also that Lagos State territories like Epe, Ikorodu and Badagry have their own indigenous peoples that have lived in these territories since the primordial times.
"That we recognise the rights of peoples of diverse ethnic backgrounds according to the dictates of the Nigerian constitution to live anywhere of their choice within Nigeria without disrespecting the dominant cultures.
"That the Nigerian constitution is clear on the right of Nigerians to seek elective positions according to the laws enshrined in the Constitution without hindrance leaving the choice to the electorate to decide out of their free, prior and informed consent.
"That we are worried about the slide into hate and disdainful, provocative statements by political and social media actors some of whose actions are fueled by mischief, propaganda and conscious lies aimed at spurring ethnic violence and conflict across Nigeria.
"That the promoters of violence and extremism are few. We urge all ethnic groups not to equate the extremist opinions of fringe elements with the popular opinion of the peoples they claim to represent.
"Our appeal goes to all Nigerians, especially in Lagos irrespective of faith, ethnicity and creed to sheath their sword and allow peace to reign.
"That we commit ourselves to preventing violence and conflict before and after the Gubernatorial election while any group or persons disturbed with the election outcome should seek redress in court.
"That we hereby agree to embark on massive campaigns, through pamphleteering, advocacy visits, door-to-door engagements to stall any plot to cause disaffection, ethnic or religious strife between Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa, Ijaw, Urhobo, Ogoni, Andoni, and other ethnic groups in Lagos or elsewhere before, during and after the Presidential election.
“That we hereby set up Action Committee to work in identified troubled areas to prevent ethnic or religious conflict with all our strength for the peace and prosperity of mankind."
The statement was jointly signed by, Convener, Adewale Adeoye, Journalists for Democratic Rights, JODER; David Ajetumobi, Nigerian Automobilse Technicians Association, NATA; Segun Ajomole ANACOWA Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association; Konoun Marshal Movement for the Survival of Ijaw Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta; Ade Ikuesan National Association of Nigerian Motorcycles Riders; Digital Werimipre, Egbesu Supreme Assembly, SEA; Rasaq Arogundade Oodua Peoples Congress, (OPC New Era).
Others are Sunday Akinnuoye Network of Yoruba Alliance, (NENA); Dim Uche Okwukwu, Ohanaeze Ndigbo; Taofik Adeyemi Oodua Peoples Congress, (Reformed); Mallam Shetima Yerima Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, (AYCF); Col Tony Nyiam, NADECO; Segun Adeola Oodua Nationalist Coalition, (ONAC); Ashipa Eniola Professional Hunters Association of Nigeria; Akin Oloniyi, Vigilante Group of Nigeria, VGN; Uche Okereke Civil Society Coalition for Mandate Protection, CS-CMAP; Chief Kunle Oshodi, Agbekoya; Eric Oluwole Coalition of Yoruba Youths; Sergeant Loba, Ogoni Youth Front, OYF; Popoola Ajayi, All Yoruba Democratic Movements, AYDM; Dr Kola Afolabi, Covenant Group; United Middle Belt Indigenous Peoples Congress, UMBIPC and Kudu Abubakar, NUPE Congress.