FG Promises Peaceful FCT Area Councils’ Election
…Security agents warns troublemakers
Jaiyeola Andrews in Abuja
The federal government on Thursday said it has put all mechanism in place to ensure a peaceful conduct of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) area councils’ election billed for tomorrow (Saturday).
The FCT Minister, Malam Muahammad Musa Bello gave the assurance during a special stakeholders’ meeting held at Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Abuja.
The minister noted that the government would do everything within its powers to ensure that peace continues to reign in FCT as residents go to the polls to elect their representatives.
Bello disclosed that security agencies had been directed to deal decisively with all troublemakers who might want to disrupt the process.
“Let me reiterate our resolve to ensure a peaceful conduct of the exercise as all security agencies have been directed to deal decisively with al troublemakers who might want to disrupt the process,” the minister said.
Bello equally assured that security agencies had been fully mobilised to ensure peaceful conduct and therefore enjoined residents to obey the law and move about without any fear of intimidation.
He said in every contest, there must be a winner and a loser and as such admonished residents particularly the aspirants to be good sportsmen by being good winners and good losers.
He reminded FCT residents that election was not a do-or-die affair, but rather an opportunity to elect leaders of their choice who will deliver dividends of democracy.
The minister also delivered a message from President Muhammadu Buhari who is the Governor General of the FCT, urging all FCT residents to conduct themselves in a peaceful manner before, during and after the election.
In his welcome address, the FCT Permanent Secretary, Dr. Babatope
Ajakaiye, said the forum was designed to foster peace and understanding to ensure that the elections are held without rancor or violence.
Ajakaiye reiterated that the change mantra of the present administration demands of Nigerians a clean break from the culture of violence, which was a product of political desperation and inordinate ambitions.
The permanent secretary noted that desperation had always characterised and undermined the success of elections in some parts of the country.
“You have all been invited here today to rub minds together in order to ensure that the elections are conducted successfully in an atmosphere of peace and order.
“We owe posterity an obligation to entrench and bequeath peace and fair play as permanent features of electioneering processes in this territory, and indeed in our country,” Ajakaiye added.
Also speaking at the meeting, the Police Commissioner in charge of election security, Mr. Folunsho Adebanjo who spoke on behalf of the security agencies, warned all political gladiators in FCT to advise their supporters to shun violence as the security agents would not condone any act of political violence.
Some of the people that also spoke at the occasion included the Minister of Defence, Brig-Gen. Mansur Dan-Ali, Senator representing the FCT, Senator Philip Tanimu Aduda as, well as Senator Isa Hamman Missau, Senate Committee Chairman on Navy. Others were the Chairman of the FCT Council of Chiefs and Ona of Abaji, FCT CAN Chairman, Deputy Imam of the Abuja National Mosque, Chairman of FCT Chapter of the NCWS, Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on FCT Area Councils and Ancillary Matters.
