Nigeria Police Force (NPF) was on Tuesday charged to do everything humanly and professionally possible to ensure that the forthcoming 2023 general elections are held peacefully without any rancour or untoward occurrences.
This charge was made by the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Sen. Lekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade II while playing host to the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone XI (Zone 11), Mrs. Christy Cookey at his Alarere residence.
Oba Balogun, in a press statement made available to journalists in Ibadan by his Personal Assistant (Media), Oladele Ogunsola was quoted as saying that “the 2023 general elections hold very crucial and strategic place in the live of this country, yet, the signs are ominous which is it becomes imperative to make this charge.
“Though, we have other security agencies whose roles in ensuring peace and security cannot be over-emphasized, but, being the traditional peace keepers and the most senior of all the security agencies, the police hold the ace when it comes to maintainance of peace and security. Let there be synergy between you and other sister agencies yo give us free and free from fear polls”, Olubadan said further.
The monarch equally commended the police in the zone for the cooperation existing between the Force and the people, noting that “your officers in this zone have proved themselves to be thorough-bred professionals. I can personally testify to the good working relationship between your people and my people through my Mogajis, who assist in ensuring that security and peace reign supreme in our localities”.
Speaking earlier, the AIG, Mrs. Cookey, accompanied by the Commissioner of Police (CP) in Oyo State, Williams Adebowale and other members of top echelons of the Force in the zone said she had come to pay homage to Olubadan, whom she described as a long standing friend of the police, and whose friendship had since transformed to the fatherly disposition.
She recalled that her barely two-month stay in the zone had been very eventful as regards maintainance of law and order. According to her, “the issue of land grabbing has been on the front-burner in the zone since my arrival here late October and though, it is not difficult to nip the problem in the bud, yet, we are not relenting in our efforts to ensure people are not ripped off their hard earned money”.
In a short interview with her by the media on the Force’s preparations for the 2023 general elections, she disclosed that the Force is not leaving any stone unturned to ensure that the elections are hitch-free. She commended the IG, Usman Baba Alkali for his proactiveness in that regard, stressing that “he has been organizing regular conferences for us to keep us abreast of every development in the electoral system.
“To avoid our becoming stale, the IG ensures that we are not left with the knowledge of previous elections, rather, he gathers us together after each election to review what obtained and get reorientated for future exercises. We are made to understand that each election comes with its peculiarities and we are always ahead of any situation
There’s nothing anybody may want to bring up during election that we have no knowledge of and how to deal with such”, she added.
The AIG assured the monarch that the Force would continue to strive for the best just as she asked him to remain accessible to her team in the zone as he may be called upon to use his influence in any way and manner that would advance the cause of the Force towards an enhanced and more professional, effective and efficient service delivery.
