Governor Simon Lalong, the director-general of the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign team, says it is time for presidential candidate Bola Tinubu to ‘chop’ (local parlance that could mean have a share in a booty or food). Being in government is often considered an avenue to enrich oneself, often illegitimately, in Nigeria.
“Emi lokan! Asiwaju has done good. It is his turn. It is your turn. It is our turn,” Mr Lalong said at the top of his voice. “If you ‘chop’ alone, you die alone. It is not ‘chop’ alone. So, it is his turn to ‘chop’ too. And that is why ’emi lokan’ is very important.”
Mr Lalong made the statement on Tuesday during Mr Tinubu’s campaign rally in Kwara.
The video, which has been making rounds on social media, has received backlash from social media users and commentators.
Rinu Oduala, a social commentator and human rights activist Tuesday, said on Twitter, “They turned Nigeria to ‘chop, make I chop’.”
Plangkat Millaham, who shared the video on Twitter, said, “I’m ashamed to call this man my governor. APC has turned Nigeria into a ‘chop, make I chop’ system. A damn shame.”
Last December, Mr Tinubu was seen charging top party members in London to “fight,” “grab,” and “run” with political power after his controversial appearance at Chatham House.
