By Evelyn Omotoye
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Ahead of Saturday’s general elections, the Ondo State government has pledged its cooperation with security agencies and other relevant stakeholders to ensure peaceful conduct across the state.
The state governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) made the promise while receiving in his office a delegation of the Nigerian Police led by the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) in charge of Training and Development, Yakubu Jubril, who was in the state on a mission to supervise the conduct of the general elections in the Southwest zone of the country.
The governor who was represented by his deputy, Agboola Ajayi expressed optimism that the scheduled elections would be smooth in the state, owing to the record of the state as the most peaceful in the Niger Delta region.
Akeredolu maintained that his government is committed to ensuring conducive environment for peaceful conduct of his people that will engender free, fair and credible polls.
“It is not just important but compulsory that all of us must maintain peace during and after the election. That is our message”, he stated.
The governor however urged the Police to carry out their assignment without bias and caution politicians who are desperate to have their desires achieved at all cost to desist.
Earlier, the team leader, DIG Yakubu Jubril had informed that his mission is to supervise the forthcoming general elections in the Southwest Zone 11, comprising Ondo, Oyo and Osun, to ensure law, order and peace before during and after the polls.
Having served at various levels in different towns in Ondo state in the past including his youth service, the supervising DIG said he is familiar with the people, terrain and topography of the state, noting that residents are peace loving and law abiding.
He stated that he had earlier met with the security chiefs and men at the command as well as various stakeholders including leaders of political parties on the need to embrace peace and ensure free and fair elections.
He assured the government and the electorate therefore that his team will do all within its powers to give them a desired security and enjoy needed support and cooperation to exercise their civic right in casting their votes without fear of intimidation, molestation or harassment from anybody.
Meanwhile, the new Ondo State Commissioner of Police, Undie Adie while speaking with journalists after the courtesy call, charge politicians and their supporters to play the game by its rules.
“We are security officers, we are law officers and we cannot do anything less than the law. Game of politics has rules and they are to adhere to it strictly, once this is done, we are sure to have peaceful environment, free, fair and credible elections’, he said.