Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, yesterday said the deployment of armed security operatives, including soldiers to Osun State for Saturday’s governorship election was to prevent breakdown of law and order before, during and after the governorship election.
The ruling party in the state, All Progressives Congress (APC) had accused the federal government of deploying the security operatives to intimidate the people of the state so that they will not turn out en masse for the election on August 9.
Obanikoro, at a briefing in Osogbo, however said the soldiers deployed to the state were not to intimidate people, but to ensure peace in all parts of the state. He noted that the main rationale behind the deployment of the security agents was for maintenance of peace and orderliness.
He spoke against the backdrop of alleged victimisation of residents of the state by the armed security operatives, saying “those you are seeing are trained security personnel who are after peace in the country,” Obanikoro said.
Just like Obanikoro rightly said, the essence of the soldiers is to ensure there is peace and orderliness during the election. I don’t know why APC is making an issue out of it. They must have some hidden agenda that is why they are not in support of the soldiers being deployed into the state.
Lives and properties must be protected. Irrational behaviors must be check and cautioned. All these are to ensure free and fair election.
is this so hard for Nigerians to accept? how many people actually feel comfortable coming out to vote without any form of security? The All Progressives Congress (APC) actually sounds ludicrious accusing the federal government of deploying the security operatives to intimidate the people of the state.