Ethnic Profiling in Nigeria’s Gubernatorial Poll among “unacceptable” Vices: Archbishop

The Nigerian Catholic Archbishop says that “the ethnic and discriminatory comments” that are being circulated on social media do not reflect the “true nature” of people of God under his pastoral care who are “known to be very peace-loving, accommodating and cosmopolitan.”

He calls upon 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 behaviors, particularly along the ethnic or tribal line are not conducive to good neighborliness and peaceful coexistence,” says the Catholic leader whose Archdiocese is headquartered in Nigeria’s largest city, Lagos.

He continues, “The people of Lagos must not allow the political class to whip up such divisive sentiments to disrupt their lives and livelihood.”

He notes that Nigerians “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.”

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“We are all Nigerians and have lived and interacted together as one people for decades in Lagos and other parts of our country,” says the Catholic Archbishop who started his Episcopal Ministry in January 1998 as Bishop of Nigeria’s Abeokuta Diocese.

Archbishop Adewale also commiserates with families that lost loved ones and those whose properties were destroyed following election-related violence and urges law enforcement agencies to indiscriminately protect the lives and properties of Nigerians.

He goes on to urge residents of Lagos to “remain calm and not allow themselves to be divided against their neighbors.”

In his victory speech following the March 18 gubernatorial polls, the Lagos State Governor-elect Babajide Sanwo-Olu condemned ethnic profiling, saying that the people settled on competence and experience.

“Lagos is what it is today because of you, regardless of ethnicity, religion, political affiliation, gender, or age,” said the governor who was re-elected for the second term after garnering 762,134 votes.