Osun 2018: We won’t tolerate thuggery, CP warns political parties

AGAINST the build up to September 22 governorship election in Osun State, the Police, on Friday, warned political parties participating in the exercise to eschew thuggery and violence, saying anybody involved in acts, capable of jeorpardising peaceful conduct of the poll would be decisively dealt with.

Handing down this warning during a stakeholders meeting with the representatives of political parties in Osogbo, Osun State capital, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Fimihan Adeoye declared that “we won’t permit thuggery during the election. If anybody has offered himself as thug, such person should have a rethink now.”

He charged leadership of various political parties to ensure that their members, supporters and loyalists exhibit decorum before, during and after the election, saying the security agencies would not condone acts that can disrupt the electoral process.

According to Adeoye, “if any individual is apprehended with firearms, the person is a suspected armed robber and if anybody has hired some people as thugs, they should without further delay terminate such engagement.”

“Everything about politics should be peaceful. We have to build on the existing peace in Osun State and our plan is to improve upon the peaceful conduct of last governorship election. Political gladiators should learn to address issues and desist from using inflammatory words that can incite violence”, the police boss stated.

In his remark, the Osun State Director, Department of State Security (DSS), Barrister Brown Ekwoaba posited that the conduct of Ekiti and Osun States’ governorship polls would be a test case for 2019 general elections, stressing that it was imperative for political parties to cooperate with relevant stakeholders in ensuring credible and peaceful election.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Alliance for Democracy (AD), National Conscience Party (NCP) and a host of others.

SOURCE: NIGERIAN TRIBUNE