Traditional Ruler charges Police with peaceful Conduct of Elections
Olubunmi Osoteku, Ibadan.
A traditional ruler in South-West Nigeria, the 42nd Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Lekan Balogun, has charged the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) with peaceful conduct of elections ahead of the general polls in 2023.
The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun, gave the charge while playing host to the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone XI (Zone 11), Mrs Christy Cookey, at his Alarere residence, Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.
Oba Balogun, in a press statement made available to journalists by his Personal Assistant (Media), Oladele Ogunsola, said the 2023 general elections hold a very crucial and strategic place in the history of Nigeria, and it is imperative to give the charge.
“Though we have other security agencies whose roles in ensuring peace and security cannot be overemphasized, being the traditional peacekeepers and the most senior of all the security agencies, the police hold the ace when it comes to maintainance of peace and security.
“Let there be synergy between you and other sister agencies to make us free from fear during the polls,” the statement read in part.
The monarch equally commended the Police in the zone for the cooperation that exists between the Force and the people, noting that the officers in the zone had proved themselves to be thorough-bred professionals.
He extolled the good working relationship between the officers and the citizens as testified to by the high chiefs who assist in ensuring security and peace in the localities.
Earlier, the AIG, Mrs Cookey, said she had come to pay homage to the Olubadan, whom she described as a long standing friend of the Police, whose friendship had transformed into a fatherly disposition.
She recalled that her barely two-month old stay in the zone had been very eventful as regards maintenance of law and order.
“The issue of land grabbing has been on the front-burner in the zone since my arrival here late October.
“And though it is not difficult to nip the problem in the bud, yet we are not relenting in our efforts to ensure people are not ripped off their hard-earned money,” said AIG Cookey.
Fielding questions from reporters on the preparedness of the Police for the 2023 general elections, the Commissioner for Police disclosed that the Force was not leaving any stone unturned in ensuring that the elections are hitch-free.
She commended the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba Alkali, for his proactiveness and for organizing regular conferences to keep the Police abreast of every development in the electoral system.
“To avoid our becoming stale, the Inspector General of Police ensures that we are not left with the knowledge of previous elections, rather he gathers us together after each election to review what obtained and get reorientated for future exercises.
“We are made to understand that each election comes with its peculiarities and we are always ahead of any situation.
“There’s nothing anybody may want to bring up during election that we have no knowledge of and how to deal with such,” Cookey added.
The AIG assured the monarch that the Force would continue to strive for the best.
She asked him to remain accessible to her team in the zone as he may be called upon to use his influence in any way and manner that would advance the cause of the Force for an enhanced and more professional, effective and efficient service delivery.
The AIG was accompanied on the visit by the Commissioner of Police (CP) in Oyo State, Williams Adebowale, and other members of the top echelon of the Force in the zone.
