A socio-political organisation, Yoruba Ronu Group, has warned politicians in the South-West zone to stop campaigns of calumny ahead of the 2023 general elections.
The YRG specifically condemned some alleged sponsored online media attacks against a presidential aspirant and National Leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
YRG Chairman, Mr Diran Iyantan, expressed sadness in a statement, on Tuesday, saying that mischievous posts online had become a routine.
He alleged that the source of those publications was well known and traceable to certain misguided politicians and fake human rights crusaders.
According to Iyatan, “We have repeatedly stated in our previous releases that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s ambition does not stop other Yoruba or any South-West person from aspiring to the same position. We just feel that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has a better chance than anyone else at clinching the position which is the reason for our support for him.
“It is, therefore, sad to see fellow Yoruba persons casting aspersions on the person of Jagaban for flying high the flag of the Yoruba race. Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s interest after leaving office has been to help nurture and consolidate democracy in Nigeria. This, he has done, creditably, well. In addition, he has helped the progressives to attain the country’s presidency.
“We are aware that the stakes are high as the presidential election approaches, and desperate politicians will resort to different gimmicks, basically, to rock the boat. Those who have committed themselves to a sustained campaign of calumny in the media against the person of Asiwaju Tinubu, the former Governor of Lagos State, will labour in vain and they are well known to us.
“We are aware that these cowards and hack-writers have benefited from Asiwaju’s benevolence in the past, only to turn around and sponsor negative publications to impugn his reputation. We charge them to desist forthwith from such callousness because their duplicitous conduct will eventually hunt them down.”
YRG, therefore, advised politicians to promote the interest of their political parties, conduct themselves with maturity, dignity and mutual respect in the interest of the people of Yorubaland and other Nigerians at large.