We Are Ready — Police Command

Oshiomhole Advises Against Sale Of Voter Cards

THE 2007 governorship election in Edo State witnessed in some areas hoodlums and political thugs causing mayhem and using the attendant confusion to snatch ballot boxes.

Two young men, who tried to resist such elements that stormed their polling unit to snatch ballot boxes, lost their lives.

The ugly situation, if not checked, could lead to voter apathy on Election Day in July and thus create room for manipulation of the balloting.

So, to ensure security of life and property ahead of the election, the Assistant Inspector of General of Police (AIG), Zone Five, in charge of Edo, Delta and Bayelsa States, Mr. Hashimu Argungu, has announced that there would be no vehicular movements in the state during the voting except for those on essential services.

Argungu also warned politicians in the state not indulge in acts of violence on the day, just as he denied rumours that there had been influx of arms into the state.

Flanked by the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Olayinka Balogun and other senior police officers in the zone, the police chief said that a detachment of anti-riot policemen had arrived in the state while police formations in neighbouring states would also be deployed to boost the capacity of those on ground.

“We are not oblivious of the plans by some would-be trouble makers, who would want to cause disaffection amongst people,” Argungu said.

“This group of people (is) are professional trouble makers, who, for their selfish motives, create crisis. They are agents of mischief. They are warned in their own interest to desist from actions and utterances that could lead to crisis situation before, during and after the election.

“The Nigerian Police Force in the zone would not condone any act of lawlessness. Politicians are advised in their own interest to desist from the use of political thugs, as anyone caught will be dealt with decisively in accordance with the law. All law-abiding residents are, however, assured of their safety and that of their property.”

Argungu said the issue of importation of arms was just a rumour because, “if there is any information, our intelligence are going to find out but no issue pertaining to importation arms as at now.”

“We have inter-agency committee on election duties; we are always meeting and working together to have a peaceful election and as such, the DIG in charge of the South-South came here and all the suspected flash points we visited there so that we can put our feet on the round,” he said.

“Yesterday, myself and the Commissioner of Police visited Edo North and Edo Central to brief our men (on) how we are going to operate during the election. We have put so many things on the ground.”

There was also a stakeholders’ forum on Thursday where the police said they would not tolerate the use of local vigilance groups in the name of security on Election Day.

At a meeting of all security agents at the AIG’s conference room, it was revealed that 60 Hilux vans would be deployed to the state to complement the ones available for mobility of security personnel and at least 3,500 soldiers to be deployed in the three senatorial districts, to ensure safety and security.

They officers will man major roads across the state, to check vehicular and human movements during the election.

Residents Sell Voter Cards For N5,000

IN the interim, no fewer than 19 persons were allegedly arrested in different parts of Benin City for buying voters’ card from electorate and setting them ablaze.

An eyewitness in Ikpoba Hill area of the state capital told The Guardian that a prominent politician from Edo South and his supporters were in the area buying voters’ cards.

Another resident on TV Road claimed to have witnessed the illegal act beside the Internal Revenue office in the area at about 6.30pm. He said that each card was being bought at between N2,000 and N5,000.

A chieftain of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Chris Okaigben, told journalists that he witnessed an incident where some youths, who ran into some people suspected to be members of PDP, were buying voters’ card in a building and raised the alarm that attracted residents of the area.

He said an attempt by one of the suspects to escape with some voters’ cards from the scene resulted in fracas, as he was apprehended and handed over to the police with five others, who were being interrogated at the police station as at the time he was briefing the press.

The state Police Commissioner, Olayinka Balogun, confirmed that a senior police officer was handling the matter.

Reacting to the alleged sales of voters’ cards, Governor Adams Oshiomhole, in a brief statewide television broadcast, advised the people to shun any move by politicians to deprive them of their civic right by offering them money for their voter’s cards.

He emphasised that there was serious need for them to see their voters’ cards as a key to secure their future and the generations yet unborn.

Oshiomhole said Edo State was in the eye of the world because of the coming election, and urged the people “to ensure that the state continues on the path of progress.”

“Even if these forces of darkness think that we are poor, the fact of our poverty does not mean we are poor in brain,” he said. “So, don’t allow them to make you look foolish to catch on your poverty by asking you to sell your voters’ card. In any case, it is absolutely illegal for you to sell your voter’s card,” Oshiomhole said.

The governor advised whoever had fallen prey to the antics of some prominent politicians in the state by selling their voters’ cards to report at the Government House for intervention.

“If you have already sold your card, report to the Government House and tell us the story, and we will offer to assist you. Whatever happens, retain your right to decide who govern you. It is the most important responsibility of a citizen in a free and democratic society,” he said.

The Guardian gathered that with support from outside the state, a party in the election had entered into remote villages, where voter population is high, to purchase voters’ card from villagers with as much as N5,000 to N10,000 per card.

The theory is that with such a huge amount, it would be difficult for some villagers to reject the offer.

It was learnt that the party was not interested in using the cards because of the biometric process in obtaining them but would destroy them to dis-enfranchise the owners.

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has tasked political parties, candidates and other stakeholders to eschew violence in the election.

At a sensitisation forum for stakeholders and the general public in Benin City two Saturdays ago, the Edo State director of the Agency, Mr. Richard David, said the forum became necessary as the voters needed to be educated and sensitised on the demand for a violence-free election.

David stressed the agency’s commitment to sensitising the citizens with the aim of imbibing peace as one of Nigeria’s core values.

“I wish to urge you to join me in strengthening the Agency’s belief that we owe our dear state and nation a duty to reject and discourage violence in its entire ramification,” he said.

The seven political parties contesting the election and representatives of the security agencies and para-military bodies attended the one-day workshop.