George Ashiru, Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Lagos State, has criticized the recent controversial statement made by the Lagos National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) chairman, who allegedly warned that those not voting for the All Progressives Congress (APC) should stay indoors during elections.
In an interview with News Central TV from 17:12, Ashiru condemned the statement, emphasizing the discriminatory nature of such rhetoric against the diverse population that patronizes transport services in Lagos.
“In all of this, it is not just the partisanship that goes with it. It’s the fact that you are a service provider, and the people that enter your buses include Igbo, Hausa, Tapa, Yoruba, Ijaw, South-South,” Ashiru stated, highlighting the multicultural composition of Lagos commuters.
He pointed out the contradiction in the NURTW chairman’s position, saying: “But you are telling them that we want your money in our buses, but we don’t want you to vote when it’s time for elections, and you collect tax.”
The ADC chairman described such statements as anomalies that require immediate governmental response. “These are the kind of anomalies we say—any serious government will have a statement to follow this and say, we dissociate ourselves from this,” he asserted.
Ashiru expressed concern over what he perceives as governmental complicity through silence, criticizing both state and federal authorities for their delayed response. “The inability of the state and the federal government to dissociate and wait for the DSS to be making this arrest gives us the impression that there’s impunity that is supported by the government in power,” he said.
He concluded with a warning about the implications of unchecked political intimidation: “And you see, it’s easy for any one person to say 2027, this will happen.”
The statement has sparked debate about voter intimidation, the role of transport unions in politics, and the responsibility of government to protect democratic rights. See, More, Here>>>
Explore More News By Using The Button Above