Election violence: D-G NYSC tasks politicians on corps members’ safety
The Director-General, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig.- Gen. Shuaibu Ibrahim, has warned politicians against harming corps members during elections.
Ibrahim said harming corps members would mean they would stop taking part in election duties at polling units.
The D-G gave the warning during an on-the-spot inspection of a corps member, Saidu Mohammed, who sustained gunshot injuries at Omuo Ekiti during last Saturday’s bye-election held in Ekiti State.
“I want to appeal again; whenever there is an election, don’t touch my corps members. Nobody should touch my corps members during an election period,” he said.
The NYSC boss who spoke with journalists at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido-Ekiti, (FETHI) where the corps member was receiving treatment, described the situation as worrisome.
“What happened to Mohammed on Saturday during the bye-election in Omuo-Ekiti is not a good one.
“I want to appeal to Nigerians, election is not a do-or-die affair, it is service to humanity. Politicians should sell themselves to the electorate and win in a free, fair and violence-free election.
“Let the process of election be seamless; free and fair, it should not get to the extent of harming innocent people,” Ibrahim said.
Also Read: Ekiti bye-election violence: Governor Fayemi confirms arrest of suspects
He said that Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti had assured him that the law enforcement agency had arrested some suspects.
“But the government must ensure that the perpetrators are dealt with in consonance with the laws to serve as deterrents to other like minds.
”I know involving in electoral matters is voluntary, so for corps members to volunteer to participate in an election, shows that such a corps member is patriotic.
“I can assure you that where there is a security issue, we will not take our corps members to such places again,” he said.
The Chief Medical Director of FETHI, Dr Adekunle Ajayi, informed the D-G that the corps member’s condition was stable.
Ajayi said:” We are monitoring our patient; his condition is now stable. I assure you that in a few days he will be discharged.”
Mohammed, a Veterinary Doctor, serving in Ikole-Ekiti, is among the victims of Saturday’s bye-election violence.
Zainab Sa’id
