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•Tasks INEC, FG, security agencies on credible polls
•There’re plots to withdraw Obaseki’s security details — Edo govt
•Gov’s claims untrue — Police
By Ozioruva Aliu
Former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, and Chairman of The Patriots, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, has urged the Federal Government and relevant institutions to ensure that the forthcoming Edo and Ondo states governorship elections are free and fair, cautioning that the international community was watching Nigeria.
Anyaoku made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos, yesterday.
The Edo governorship election is scheduled for September 21, while that of Ondo is fixed for November 16.
Anyaoku, a diplomat and elder statesman, said the expectations of the people and indeed the international community were that the two governorship elections would be credible.
He urged the government, particularly INEC, the security agencies and other relevant institutions, to meet the expectations of the people.
Anyaoku said the rest of the world was carefully watching Nigeria and the conduct would determine how the country would be viewed and treated by the international community.
He said: “As our country is preparing for the Edo and Ondo governorship elections, I have three observations to address the Nigerian government, INEC and others.
“First, Nigeria’s friends and the whole of the international community are watching the behaviour of the federal government and its agencies.“The international community is watching the police, the army and the other law-enforcement agents, to see how far we respect the country’s constitution, the rule of law and the obligation to act well in playing their roles in respect of the elections.
“From my long experience in international politics, I must say no country is an island unto itself, especially in our increasingly globalising world.
“Therefore, our Nigerian government, like other governments all over the world, while guarding its sovereignty, should pay heed to the views of the international community. My second observation is that INEC had earned deserved compliments for its commendable handling of the general elections.
“I urge INEC to remain aware of the fact that the credibility of the results of the forthcoming elections would depend on the level of impartiality and transparency it demonstrates. This is in ensuring all aspects of the elections are free and fair, thereby making the results to truly represent the will of the people.”
Anyaoku further explained that the image and standing of the country within the international community will be significantly affected by how the elections are conducted.
He decried what he called the debasement of lives by incessant killings in the country, saying the problem should be tackled holistically.
The diplomat said a return to true fiscal federalism was imperative to move the country forward.
Plot to withdraw Obaseki’s security details
Anyaoku spoke as Edo State government, raised an alarm that there were plots to withdraw the security details attached to Governor Godwin Obaseki, and alleged that their intelligence showed massive moves to compromise next Saturday’s governorship election in favour of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and its candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo.
Speaking at a press conference at Government House, Benin City, yesterday, the Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, alongside Special Adviser to Governor Obaseki on Media Projects, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, also accused an APC leader of mobilizing militants who they said were already lodged in hotels in Benin City to destabilise the election in riverine communities, from Ologbo to Nikorogha and Siluko communities.
When contacted, the APC leader said he would contact his lawyers to press charges against Nehikhare to prove allegations that he brought militants into the state.
Nehikhare also alleged that despite appeals made to the police to end indiscriminate arrest of PDP chieftains, they have deployed squads of policemen from outside Edo State to begin arrest of PDP chieftains perceived to be politically strong in their various constituencies in order to pave the way for the manipulation of elections in those areas.
They also alleged that there is “massive production of masks and police uniforms” allegedly to be deployed by agents of the APC to disrupt voting processes in units and wards where they know they do not stand a chance of victory.
“We have also uncovered plans to redeploy all the security officials attached to the Edo State Governor, His Excellency Governor Godwin Obaseki, in order to leave him without protection and render him vulnerable as we head into the election as well as on election day.
“We are by this press conference calling on President Bola Tinubu, to order the security agencies, especially the police to stop the attacks on unarmed and harmless Edo people and Nigerians who have done nothing wrong except that they want a free, fair and credible election so that they can vote for the candidate of their choice
“We also call on the International Community, embassies of the United States, United Kingdom and the European Union as well as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union, AU, to prevail on President Tinubu so that the electorate in Edo can cast their votes in favour of whoever they believe is better to lead their State for the next four years.”
Governor’s claims untrue – Police
Dismissing the allegations of the state government, the DIG in charge of Training, Frank Mba, said there were no plans to withdraw the governor’s security aides.
Speaking on a TV programme, on Sunday evening, DIG Mba said security details attached to Gov. Obaseki would not be withdrawn but stated that the details will not be allowed to accompany the governor to the voting centre as has been the practice in all past elections.
The post Edo, Ondo polls: The world’s watching us — Anyaoku appeared first on Vanguard News.
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