2019: Police Urge Politicians To Shun Hooliganism, Thuggery

By Niyi Olutunde, Akure

Ahead of the 2019 general elections, politicians across the 18 local government areas of Ondo state have been urged to educate their followers in order to shun politics of hooliganism and thuggery.

Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim K. Idris, mni

The State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Mr Femi Joseph, gave the admonition on Monday while speaking with journalists in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

According to him, the command was battle ready to ensure peace before, during and after the election.

His words, “We are very aware that campaign has started, most especially for the Presidential and National Assembly elections. We at the command will partner with them as usual and we encourage them to cooperate with us in all their activities.

“They should not keep us in the dark, they should let us know whenever they are having campaigns and the venues. We will request them to bring their timetable for the campaign so that the campaign of two different political parties do not clash.

“We will be able to streamline it, to ensure that security is provided where needed so that everything will go on without any modicum of harassment.

“We just want to advise the politicians to play the game according to the rule. They should warn their followers not to engage in do or die politics or politics of hooliganism and thuggery as we will not hesitate to wield the big stick where necessary.

Joseph therefore called on political parties to avail the command with their campaigns timetable so as to avoid a clash of rallies by two or more political parties saying, the Command would not hesitate to arrest anyone who tries to run foul of the law, while he advised parents to warn their wards not to be tools in the hands of politicians to disrupt existing peace in the State.

He also advised parents to warn their children not to allow themselves to be used as willing tools to foment trouble as the campaign kicks off.