By Pwanagba Agabus, Jos
Ahead of the forthcoming gubernatorial elections in Kogi, Bayelsa and Imo States, the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) has called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately put machineries in place to forestall any form of deadly violence in exercise especially in Kogi State.
They stressed that spates of violence occuring in Kogi State ahead of the election is frightening.
This was disclosed by an Executive Director of the organisation, Comm. Steve Aluko, in Jos, Plateau State
He said everything possible should be done to avoid a repeat of the 2019 killings and destruction of property in the state during Bello’s re-election, saying innocent lives should not be lost during elections.
According to Aluko, Bayelsa and Imo states should also be properly monitored to ensure violence-free election, because the recent reports from both states are also not encouraging.
“We welcome the promises made by President Bola Tinubu, the military, as well as the police to forestall violence in Kogi and the other states.
“But we wish to state that this is not the first of it kind since 1999. Such promise has in many cases remained verbal talk lacking the bite it deserve.
“The 2019 violence during the re-election of Gov. Yahaya Bello in Kogi state where many were killed, properties destroyed and highest magnitude of intolerance, intimidation of voters, opposition, abuse of power, among others is still not forgotten.
“So, President Tinubu should ensure effective and timely deployment, supervision and appropriate sanctions and denouncement of all electoral malpractices of political parties, candidates and inordinate acts of security agencies and INEC before, during and after after the election.
“Rather than wait to shed ‘crocodile tears’ or abysmal condemnation of political violence, the best time to act is now.
He pointed out that the utmost and primary test before the President, security agencies and INEC is to prove to the world that Nigeria can have a positive narrative of electoral fairness and Justice.
