By Haruna Usman, Birnin Kebbi
Kebbi state police commissioner, CP Ahmed Magaji Kontagora on Wednesday inaugurated inter agencies security committee meeting in Birnin Kebbi to chart ways for harmonious and peaceful elections and solidified relationships between the police and other security agencies in the state as elections draws near and campaigns are ongoing in the country.
According to him, the committee is a child of necessity given the importance of peace during and after elections and the police as the lead security agency must sit up to ensure smooth campaigns and elections in the country “the inspector general of police IGP Alkali Baba Usman directed commissioners of police to inaugurate the inter agencies committee which is saddle with the responsibility to fine tune best ways to a successful and violence free polls in the country he said.
The state police chief use the occasion to warn officers and men of the Nigeria police force to remain neutral and to discharge their primary duties with utmost professionalism by upholding human rights.
He further said that, the police would be in charge of traffic control during campaigns to ensure civility, he call on politicians to educate their followers on the rules of engagement during campaigns and elections.
While inaugurating the committee, CP Ahmed said that, the police would head the committee, INEC commissioner co-chairman , DSS boss member, commandant NSCDC member, comptroller Nigeria immigration service member, commander NDLEA member, director National orientation agency member and comptroller Nigeria correctional center members, he further warned against hate speech and admonished the media to remain apolitical as they are critical to the sustainabce
of democracy in Africa and the world.
The occasion had in attendance traditional rulers, religious bodies and political stakeholders who are critical to the success of elections and campaigns.
Earlier in her speech, the state comptroller of Nigeria immigration,Rabi Hassan Nuhu asked INEC to ensure none Nigerians do not vote as they are not part of eligible voters saying they are free to do lawful businesses but voting is not their rights so they should be not be allowed, she added that INEC have a responsibility to de-register foreigners and retrieve their permanent voters cards.
Also speaking the state director department of state security services (DSS),Sulaiman Dabo said that, DSS are already profiling elections sabatours who mop up permanent voters cards with the intention to use them for bad reasons, he call on clerics to use their podium to preach peace not as campaign platforms.
Representative of the christaians association of Nigeria (CAN),Musa Wundu called on Nigerians to pray for peace and the success of polls, he said that lack of justice and fairness was responsible for violence in the country, he prayed to God to expose whoever has a hand in what is happening in the country.
In his speech, the Kebbi state resident electoral commissioner, malam Ahmad Mahmud thanked the CP for setting up the committee saying there is no better time than now, he said on the part of INEC 2023 would be the best in the history of Nigeria because is technology driven hence minimally reduces elections rigging and ballot snacthing.
He explained that, deployment of BVAS has further sheds the electoral umpire as a neutral body, as no INEC official can facilitate voting without PVCs every Nigerian is only eligible when he or she has a voter card.
On security he said elections are not possible without security and their responsibility is to conduct elections not to give security only the police and other security outfits can provide a peaceful environment for conducts of elections, he expressed joy that Kebbi is a peaceful state as they are only three local governments that are experiencing banditry and like always the police have pledged to secure those local governments before elections, he urged the people of Kebbi state to come forward for their PVCs and that INEC Kebbi is ready for elections .
