2019: Police Boss Urges Politicians To Eschew Violence, Hate Speech
By Olu Osikoya, Abeokuta
The Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Illiyasu on Thursday appealed to politicians across the state to avoid acts that could trigger violence within the state.
Illiyasu who made the appeal while addressing representatives of political parties that participated at the signing of peace accord held at the command headquarters in Eleweran, Abeokuta, the state capital warned that destruction of campaign posters by politicians would not be tolerated in the state.
The CP said clashes, unhealthy rivalry, hate speeches, public disturbances and other vices resulting from political crisis are not good for the country’s democracy as at present.
Speaking further at the event which had in attendance, representatives of 18 political parties which included the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) among others, Iliyasu appealed to the stakeholders to always allow the interest of the country to supersede every other interest.
He urged political parties to remain committed to the peace, unity and security of the country, insisting that election could only be successful in a peaceful atmosphere.
“Politicians should eschew violence, disturbance of public peace, hate speeches and other insultive offences as we move close to general elections.
“All political parties must be committed to the peace, unity and security of the country. Clashes, unhealthy rivalry and other social vices are not good our democracy”.
The police boss also urged parents and guardians to guide their children as against being used as political thugs, saying the police would not tolerate any act of thuggery during the elections.
In his remarks, the Secretary of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alhaji Nojeem Kehinde pledged that the union would resist attempt by politicians to use its members as thugs during the election.
“We are not thugs, some of us are educated people. We will not allow politicians to use us as thugs in this coming elections.”
