Ondo Governorship Election: Applause To IGP Ibrahim Idris
Just as the Wednesday 28th September, 2016, Edo Governorship Election was peaceful without any violence due to the security arrangement put in place by the good-natured Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim Idris, Ondo State witness another peaceful election held on the 26th of November, 2016, supervised by Deputy Inspector General of Police, Habila Joshak.
It will be recalled that the Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim Idris earlier in the week directed a robust and elaborate security arrangement to be implemented in Ondo State to ensure peaceful, credible, free and fair election should be put in place.
I must commend the IGP for deploying a Deputy Inspector General of Police assisted by an Assistant Inspector General of Police and three Commissioners of Police in coordinating the security operations and supervising the deployment of security personnel for the elections throughout the 3009 polling units, 203 wards and 18 LGA of Ondo State.
The deployment of additional 26,000 Conventional Police personnel (5 Policemen per polling unit), two thousand (2,000) Mobile Police Force (PMF), ten (10) cells of Counter Terrorism Unit, the Special Protection Unit, the Anti Bomb Squad (EOD), the Marine Police, Conventional Policemen, the Armament Units, personnel from FCIID and FIIB and the Sniffer dogs section and Mounted Troops to Ondo State by the Inspector General Police, IGP Idris Ibrahim paid off as adequate security and safety of life and property before, during and after the elections was intact.
The IGP has done well so also the Police personnel deployed for the elections as they display politeness and civility in the discharge of their duties and other responsibilities. They provided adequate security for the electorates, INEC Staff, election materials, election observers and other individuals and bodies that have statutory roles in the conduct of the elections, at the Polling booths, Collation Centres and INEC Offices throughout the period of the election.
The electoral process was well secured; eligible voters were allow to exercise their rights freely without intimidation, election materials and officials were well protected and above all, no single soul was lost during the election.
In the same manner, protection of life and property in Ondo State was well secured even though minor protest in some polling units were put under control by the Nigeria Police with support from other sister security agencies on ground.
I am very proud of the Nigeria Police as the Police officers deployed for the election conduct themselves in the best professional manner by maintaining apolitical disposition and strictly stood by the rules of engagement.
The entire Nigeria Policemen deployed to Ondo State really discharged their statutory functions effectively, unbiased and in accordance to the principles of democratic policing.
Finally, I must commend all the people that participated in the election from the political parties, community leaders, parents and Guardians who prevailed on their members, supporters and children to be law abiding and for not allowing themselves to be used to cause havoc during the elections.
IGP Ibrahim Idris has laid the foundation for Peaceful and Tranquillity election conduct in Nigeria as witnessed in Edo and Ondo State respectively. I hereby called on resident of Rivers State to be law abiding as they go the poll on 10thDecember, 2016 to elect their representatives at the National Assembly.
Adewole Kehinde is a Journalist and Public Affairs Analyst based in Abuja. He can be reached via [email protected]