* Army, Navy in Serious prep for D-Day
*Warn Ondo people to stay off violence
By Gbenga Abulude (Politics and General Desk)
As the Ondo governorship election is 8 days away, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mr Mohammed Adamu has deployed DIG Adeleye Oyebade, Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Research and Planning to oversee the general security process for the election slated for October 10.
Other senior officers deployed to assist the DIG include AIG Karma Hosea Hassan, Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Federal Operations (FEDOPS) Department of Operations, Force Headquarters Abuja and 11 Commissioners of Police.
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In a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Frank Mba, at the weekend, Mba who listed the deployed officers said no security aides will be allowed to accompany VIPs or political appointees on the election day.
The statement reads: “The Coordinating DIG Adeleye Oyebade for Ondo Gubernatorial Elections has been charged by the IGP to bring his wealth of experience to bear by ensuring the due enforcement of all electoral laws throughout the period of the election.
“CP Garba Baba Umar will be in charge Monitoring/Evaluation and will be assisted by CP Habu Sani.
“Other Senior Police Officers deployed to handle other layers of security in the State are: CP Abiodun Alabi, CP Bishi Omololu, CP Ashafa Kunle, CP Akeera M. Yonous, CP Buba Sanusi, CP Audu Madaki, CP Evelyn Peterside, CP Sadiku Gbenga and CP Abutu Yaro.
“Meanwhile, the IGP has warned that no Security Aides will be allowed to accompany VIPs or Political appointees on the Day of the Guber Election noting that severe punishments will be meted out to anyone who violates the order.
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“Officers and men of the Force as well as personnel of other security agencies deployed for the election have also been charged by the IGP to conduct themselves professionally and work in line with best practices as highlighted in the Code of Conduct and Rules of Engagement for Elections.
“He also enjoins members of the public, especially politicians and their supporters to cooperate with the Police and other security agencies in the national assignment of guaranteeing a hitch-free gubernatorial poll,” the statement reads.
In a related development, the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Navy have also expressed readiness for the election in Ondo State. The officers of the two security agencies on Thursday evening embarked on an exercise tagged ‘Show of Force’ in the Ilaje and Ese Odo Local Government Areas of the state.
The exercise which started in Igbokoda in the morning and ended in the evening spanned through Atijere, Abereke, Agadagba, Obolowo, Asere, Arogbo, Dioba among other areas of the state.
Speaking after the exercise, the Commander of 32 Artillery Brigade, Akure, Brig-Gen. Zakari Abubakar, said the aim of the exercise was to signal a warning to hoodlums on the waterways that security agencies were combat-ready to ensure that the coming election was violence-free.
Abubakar said, “We have gone for ‘Show of Force’. We are telling hoodlums and militants that are on the creek who want to take undue advantage to cause trouble that we are ready.
“The purpose of the exercise is to get prepared for the October 10 governorship election. We want to ensure that the election is free and peaceful and make sure that hoodlums don’t interfere.
“As you are aware, the places visited lead to Delta and Ogun States and they will be coming. But I want to assure you that whenever and wherever they come from, we will give them blocking force.”
He advised the youths in the coastal communities to shun all forms of violence and intimidation before, during and after the election, noting that the military was aware of several camps that are springing up on the waterways, noting that some hideouts of hoodlums at Asere have been destroyed during the exercise.
Similarly, the Commanding Officer of Naval Forward and Operation Base, Igbokoda, Navy Capt. Mohammed Ahmed, said the exercise “is to assure people that we are always there to secure the environment for them and inform hoodlums that we are watching.”
