Shun religion, ethnic sentiment, vote for competence, Reps Deputy Minority Whips, Adekoya tells Nigerians

The Deputy Minority Whip of the House of Representatives, Adesegun Abdel-Majid Adekoya at the weekend warned Nigerians to steer clear of religion and ethic sentiments while voting to elect new president during the 2023 general elections.

Adekoya who is currently representing Ijebu-North/Ijebu-East/Ogun Waterside Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, urged the electorates to vote for competence, rather than party, religion or ethnicity in the coming elections.

The lawmaker, who spoke at the N500 Million Naira Fund Raising for Community Development Projects, organised by the Ago-Iwoye Great Thinkers Trust Foundation (AIGTT), in Ago-Iwoye, Ijebu-North Local Government area of Ogun state, said religious and ethnic sentiment led the the country to the current economic and security challenges the nation is presently facing.

"Therefore, in 2023, electorates should make it a matter of priority in electing competence in the general elections".

He said, "in the coming elections, people should not look for Party, Muslim, Christian or whatever. At the level we are today, and the extent APC has taken Nigeria, people should look for competence and for someone who can fix the country's economy. 

"People should not consider religion or ethnicity in the coming election. The Yoruba people don't care about your religion or what you believe in. I am the only elected PDP in Ogun State and I have never considered ever joining APC. 

"Our challenge is economy. The economy has been bastardised, so, what should our people look out for before voting a candidate. First, is economy followed by security. Government should do the needful like we passed a bill that I co-sponsored. It's for the recognition of Vigilante Group. If the vigilante group bill had been assented, there will be no need for Amotekun in the South West or Ebugbuagu in South East." 

Welcoming guests to the ceremony, the AIGTT Chairman, Board of Trustees, Major General S. A. Awosanya (rtd), said the ceremony was a convergence of indigenes of Ago-Iwoye both at home and in diaspora to raise fund for the developmental projects in the city in the area of health, agriculture, education and youth empowerment.

He said, "since government alone cannot meet the needs, yearnings, and aspirations of the citizens, AIGTT seeks to complement the efforts of government and also bridge the gap by providing interventions in some identified critical sectors of the economy".