Ekiti: Oshiomhole calls for deployment of more security operatives

National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomole has said enough security operatives, including the military should be deployed to Ekiti State for this weekend’s governorship election to ensure the safety of the electorates and the votes cast during the election.

Oshiomhole said a situation where criminals will be wielding AK 47 on an election day, and the police is overwhelmed should not be allowed to occur in Ekiti state, adding that the deployment of a large number of policemen for this weekend’s governorship election in Ekiti State was necessary to ensure safety of lives during the election.

Oshiomhole who spoke with newsmen shortly after receiving the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Paul Arkwright said the number of policemen deployed to the state for the conduct of the election does not matter as long as it is aimed at protecting the lives of the people.

The Inspector General of Police has reportedly deployed about 30,000 policemen to Ekiti State for the conduct of the election, but Oshiomhole said there was nothing wrong in the deployment, adding that for an effective presence and performance both army and police were needed in the state.

He said that experience has shown that sometimes, such figures of deployment are announced, while the actual presence on Election Day will be a far cry from the announced deployment.

“Whether they should use the military or not use the military, I don’t think you want to argue that. Over the years since 2003, 1999, the armed forces have always been deployed.

“Don’t forget that when I was in Edo state, I told people that I want the armed forces to be involved in the election because the rigging machine is serviced by criminals who are hardened and who are often hired. Now if you have criminals wielding AK 47 on an election day, and the police is overwhelmed you want to say the army should not be deployed?

“We shouldn’t worry about who we deploy. I think we should all pray that however people are deployed that in the end we are not counting dead bodies.

“My experience in Edo is that you will hear stories like so so number of people deployed. In the end, you will find no police men. I have seen that in Edo. The important thing is that regardless of what the  police chooses to do, regardless of the number they choose to deploy, let us ensure that those who are going to vote are safe and that the votes cast are secure.

“Whatever number they need to secure the lives of those who are going to vote to create that sense of security for people to move freely to vote for candidates of their choice, I don’t think we should dictate to the Inspector General of Police how many people he wants to deploy” he said.

The APC National Chairman also appreciated the British government for their support in promoting democracy in Nigeria, assuring that he would do everything to ensure a free and fair process in the Ekiti governorship election.

“For the process is more important than the outcome because we are looking at the Nigeria project in terms of sustaining democracy not the survival of a particular political aspirant whether it is on my party platform or in the platform of the opposition” he said.

In his remarks, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Paul Arkwright said his country is interested in Nigeria’s democracy added that they intend to send observers for the election to ensure it is free and fair.

“The British High Commission will be sending a team there to observe the election and to ensure that they go smoothly, to ensure that INEC can do its job, that the security forces do their job and basically to ensure that the people of Ekiti state are allowed to freely express their opinion, to vote along with their conscience and to be able to do so in peaceful manner” Arkwright said.