IGP-Idris
By Gbenga Olarinoye
THE police in Osun have read the riot act to politicians in the state ahead of the governorship election scheduled to hold on September 22 draws nearer.
The warning was issued at a stakeholders meeting organized by the National Orientation Agency, NOA, in collaboration with a German Foundation, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung
At the stakeholders meeting which was well attended by the representatives of the different political parties, traditional rulers, human right organisations, religious leaders among others, the state Commissioner of police, Mr. Fimihan Adeoye urged the parties to conduct themselves within the electoral act or face wrath of the law.
Represented by the Deputy Commissioner in charge of the operation, DC Muhammed Abu, Adeoye said the command would not condone any act of indiscipline
He also warned the youths not to allow themselves to be used as political thugs, saying anybody caught would be prosecuted.
Adeoye said: ‘I want to sound a notice of warning to all these political thugs to vacate the state immediately as the command would not condone any act of indiscipline and allow anybody to truncate the peaceful atmosphere in the state.
“Osun Police command has zero tolerance for violence. We do not know any political party and anybody caught fomenting trouble would be decisively dealt with.”
Also speaking, the NOA Director General, Dr. Garba Abari urged the political parties that are taking part in the coming governorship election to shun violence.
Abari said the meeting was convened to create awareness on the need for good political culture and credible election.
According to him, the agency is mandated to sensitise, orientate and mobilse the populace on government programmes and policies.
“As an agency, we would want to have a Nigeria, where our political parties will stand for developmental models, where elections will be devoid of violence.”
Echoing a similar view, Mrs. Yomi Olasinde, the Osun state Director of National Orientation Agency said the agency was determined to orientate the public, especially youth on the need to always desist from activities capable of causing a crisis in the state before, during and after the election.
Mrs. Olasinde noted that the politicians should not see election do or die affairs, just as she urged them to desist from the habit of seducing electorate with money at the polling booths.
She, however, called on security agencies to ensure the safety of election observers, voters and other stakeholders who have constitutional roles to play at the polls.