By Bolaji Buhari
#TrackNigeria: Mr Moyo Ogunlewe, son of a former Minister of Works, Sen. Adeseye Ogunlewe, on Monday advised politicians against using violence as a means to seek political power.
He gave the advice while speaking with newsmen in Lagos.
Ogunlewe is the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for Kosofe 1, in the state House of Assembly elections holding on March 9.
He said that politics should ideally be a platform to serve and not an avenue to cause discomfort or harm to the people.
Ogunlewe blamed violence recorded in elections on the do-or-die politics practised by some desperate politicians.
“Politics should be about service and not about killings or violence. Politics should not be a do-or-die thing.
“Why should anyone indulge in violence to seek power? If you are accepted by the people, you do not need that.
“We have this problem because politics is all some people do. So, they must achieve their aims through any means possible.
“Democracy is not about violence. We should make peace our watchword all the time,” he said.
Ogunlewe said he was shocked by media reports from his main contender for the assembly seat, Mr Sanni Okanlawon of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who raised an alarm that he plotted to assassinate him.
He described the reports as mischievous and libelous, saying he had no record of violence and would never kill anyone for any reason.
The candidate alleged that he was rather a victim of violence perpetrated by some APC supporters during his campaign at Maryland area on Saturday.
“I read the reports in which OKLA (Okanlawon), alleged that I am plotting to assassinate him and the question is for what?
“Why would I toe the path of violence to achieve anything or realise a political ambition?
“I have no record of violence. I don’t believe in do -or-die politics. Everybody knows my family, we don’t engage in such.
“Rather, I was the victim of violence by APC supporters. My convoy was attacked during my house-to-house campaign in Mende on Saturday.
“Several of my supporters were injured, I have lodged a complaint with the police, I am surprised that Okla and his men are turning the thing against me,” he said.
Ogunlewe said that he was the man of the people and would defeat Okanlawon on Saturday.
The candidate said the assassination allegation against him and the attack on his campaign convoy would not stop his victory.
Ogunlewe urged residents to turn out en masse and vote for the PDP on Saturday.
He advised them not to stay indoors for fear of violence, as that would deny them the opportunity to elect leaders of their choice.
.Ogunlewe said he was contesting to represent Kosofe 1 in the state assembly to serve the people of the area. (NAN)
