ABUJA, Federal Republic of Nigeria. Those who have mapped out plans to engage in electoral violence in the areas earmarked for rerun elections on Saturday should better think twice. This is as the new Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP), Solomom Arase, has worn that Nigeria has had enough of electoral violence, describing it as intolerable; hence, he will deploy all that is humanly possible to resist it.
He reassured that the rerun elections will be hitch free.
He gave the warning in his maiden speech after he has received the mantle of leadership from the outgoing IGP, Suleiman Abba.
Meanwhile, the outgoing IGP, Suleiman Abba has said despite the fact that he had been relieved of his appointment, he will move on with his life.
Arase reiterated that: “I must however reemphasis that as a nation, we have had enough of electoral violence. Therefore, under my leadership, we shall work closely with INEC and other strategic stakeholders to ensure that such act will not only be defined as intolerable, perpetrators will be identified, isolated and brought to deserved justice to act as deterrence.
“To the unrepentant felons, that may want to put our common will to test, the message is being relayed here loud and clear, that in securing the law abiding, we shall also not hesitate to deploy our potent assets to deal firmly and decisively with deviants.
“Consequently, while the unique intelligence assets of the Force will be deployed to proactively support our operational plans, there shall also be massive deployment of men and materials to the affected areas inorder to assure the law abiding citizens, prevent social disorder and creat a secure environment for the qualified electorates to exercise their franchise. “
Speaking earlier, Abba said: “Let me first and formous congratulate Solomon Arase for your appointment as the acting inspector general of police. Let me say with every sincerity of purpose, it is a well deserved appointment. Not only for the management of the force but also for Nigeria as a whole. Meaning that I wish him well and confident that he will do much better from what you are meeting.
“I want to thank Mr President for appointing me as IGP and for also seeing me out at this time because I believe God knows the best. I want to say that I want to move on with my life believing that life has steps and journey.
“I want to move on with my life. But while I am doing that, I also want to seize this opportunity to appeal to those who for any reason we have offended, perhaps due to inproper judgement to have an understanding of the nature of policing globally. I still appeal for understanding.
“The elections are almost over. I want to seize this opportunity to thank all including stakeholders for making the election not only a reality but for making it credible.”
Credit: Daily Independent (Nigeria)
