The Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev. Alfred Martins, says ethnic profiling, utterances and violence witnessed in some parts of Lagos State, before, during and after the recent elections, was unacceptable.
While condemning the act, the clergyman warned that the trend, if not urgently checkmated, could truncate the peaceful co-existence of residents of the state.
In a statement by the Director of Social Communications, Rev. Fr. Anthony Godonu, the prelate urged the state government to call parties to order and put in place a mechanism for the quick restoration of peace and normalcy.
He equally implored the law enforcement agencies to safeguard the lives and properties of all residents irrespective of tribe, religion, or ethnic groups.
He said: “The ethnic and discriminatory comments making the rounds particularly on social media are not a reflection of the true nature of Lagosians who are known to be very peace-loving, accommodating, cosmopolitan and promote inter-tribal marriages for many decades.
“I call on everyone to put a stop to the spread of hate speech and fake news and to shun all forms of rancor. The divisive comments and behaviours, particularly along ethnic or tribal line are not conducive to good neigbourliness and peaceful coexistence. The people of Lagos must not allow the political class to whip up such divisive sentiments to disrupt their lives and livelihood. We are all equal before God and the only man-made distinction among people is between the poor and the rich, the privileged and the underprivileged.
“We are all Nigerians and have lived and interacted together as one people for decades in Lagos and other parts of our country.
“With the elections over, we hope that all those who have been fanning the embers of ethnic division will be more circumspect and desist from further heating up the polity. We must be law-abiding citizens and not take the law into our hands in any guise.”
Archbishop Martins also called on law enforcement agencies to do the needful where offences have been committed, as part of efforts to facilitate a national healing process.
