Kogi CP Warns Politicians to Desist from Violence, Heating Up Polity

Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja

The Kogi State Commissioner of Police ,Bethrand Onuoha, has once again  warned  all the political parties in the state and their supporters to play by the rules, stop  heating up polity in the State

This was contained in statement by the Command Police Public Relation Officer, SP William Aya, copy of which was made available to the newsmen yesterday Lokoja.

The command vowed to resist all forms of political violence in the state. Onuoha urged them to desist from all forms of violence as anyone caught disrupting the prevailing peaceful environment in the State will be made to face the full wrath of the Law

The CP made this appeal after the Command received a report of alleged attack on the SDP Campaign at Koton-Karfe where some persons were said to have been injured in the process through  political violence.

Onuoha ,who  sympathised with all victims of political violence, condemning in strong terms,   some politicians whose stock-in-trade is violence and who have taken it upon themselves to cause mayhem and heat up the State through their unguarded utterances and unregulated activities.   

The CP further directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) to commence a thorough, diligent and holistic investigation of all acts of political violence, accusations and counter-accusations on all the Political Parties and Actors with a view to bringing all offenders to book.

He assured   the people of the command’s unwavering commitment to the protection of all lives and property in the state.              

He further stated that these instances of violence are attributed to the failure of most of the political actors to honour invitations and partake in series of stakeholders’ parleys/interactions where issues bordering on security  and the need to conduct political  activities as enshrined in The Electoral Act are discussed.

“While chairmen and candidates of the other political parties have continued to honour police invitations to discuss petitions and or allegations with the Police, and other salient issues germane to peaceful campaigns, and that of the Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), be it emphasised here that several invitations extended to the SDP and ADC Candidates for interaction and consultation with the Police to shed light,provide explanations and give their own side of the story on Petitions written against them but to no avail.”

“While these other parties have been carrying the Police along in their activities, the SDP candidate has consistently and vehemently refused to honour any of police invitations for investigation, or inform the CP nor the command while embarking on political rallies to enable the police provide adequate security coverage.

“His refusal to deal with the Police is undermining peace in the state, has been impeding efforts to stream-line  and regulate political activities which in turn has greatly contributed to the pockets of political violence being witnessed in the state presently.

“His riding rough-shod and engaging in political brinkmanship and brigandage is an ill-wind that blows no one any good. For instance, on the complaint of Breach of Security against The Executive Governor of Kogi State at Banda on June 3, 2023, the SDP candidate Murtala Yakubu Ajaka has consistently refused to honour police several invitations to give his own side of the story.

 “Again, since he applied for police security he was invited to come but till date, he refused to show up, he moves around with a retinue of suspected political thugs armed to the teeth. Consequently, the above facts and scenario,  coupled with his recalcitrance and obduracy have continued to jeopardise police investigation and maintenance of law and order in the state.

“The CP uses this medium to sternly warn all the political parties in the state and their supporters to play by the rules and stop heating up the state, desist from all forms of violence as anyone caught disrupting the prevailing peaceful environment in the state will be made to face the full wrath of the law. He appealed to the political actors to give peace a chance by conducting themselves in peaceful manner and shunning all acts capable of truncating the peace, tranquility and unity of Kogi State.  

“ To this end, the CP therefore, for the last time, warns would-be trouble-makers to have a change of heart and desist from acts of intolerance as the Police is ever determined to deal decisively with anyone who will not give peace a chance in the State, the CP stressed.