ARG Congratulates Southwest Elected Compatriots

The Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) has congratulated all the elected officials in the Southwest states for their victory at the polls during the 2015 General Elections.

The socio-political group, in a statement signed by its publicity secretary, Kunle Famoriyo, also thanked Southwest voters for voting their conscience and for voting peacefully.

Specifically, ARG congratulated Akinwumi Ambode of Lagos State, Sen. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, and Senator Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State for their deserved electoral victories and charged them to “remember always why the people gave them the mandate.”

“You were endorsed by the ARG because of your demonstrated commitment and our conviction that the current renaissance of good governance, developmental strides and welfare policies that has commenced in our land, can only continue, be sustained and flourish under your administration,” the statement said.

The group also applauded all elected National Assembly and Houses of Assembly members, charging them to represent the interest of the Southwest geo-political zone in particular and Nigeria in general.

Finally, the group associates with other well meaning Nigerians in commending President Goodluck Jonathan for conceding defeat in a manner that defused the looming bomb of violence that might have plunged the country into untold humanitarian crisis.

“What President Jonathan did, moved the country away from the precipice. The country's political instability, which was in red before the elections, was graciously filled to stability, the statement said.

Akiolu: ARG condemns negative media campaigns

The Afenifere Renewal Group has condemned the unguarded vitriol, misrepresentation, and misinterpretation that continue to trail the incidence at the palace of the respected Oba of Lagos, HRH Rilwan Akiolu I.

In a statement signed by its publicity secretary, Kunle Famoriyo, the group said those who are hiding under democracy to malign the person and office of the Oba of Lagos must not forget that democracy cannot obliterate traditions and cultural privileges.

“The ARG would like to say that the Yoruba culture is self-regulatory and it leaves room for check and balances. No one needs to teach us how to put our house in order. We therefore condemn all the uncharitable calls for sanctions and apologies,” the statement said.

“For explanatory purpose, it must be emphasised that the Oba is supreme in Yoruba cultural context and in Lagos, the lagoon is seen in the traditional context as the defender of Lagos' interest. It is believed that those working against Lagos' interest would be swallowed up by the lagoon.”

“It is therefore mischievous to equate the Oba's comment to a hate speech or ethnic violence; the same could have been said to any Yoruba man or group perceived by the royalty of working against the domain's interest.”

“The revered stool of Oba of Lagos and the present occupant cannot be subjected to public disparage under an intangible democratic right that fails to understand and accommodate our cultural disposition. We hope every negative campaign will stop henceforth.”

Segun Balogun
Programme Officer
Afenifere Renewal Group
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