On Monday, December 23, President Bola Tinubu and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) were urged to take immediate action to prevent the pandemonium that was about to break out at the Edo State Local Government Secretariats.. CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
finds out that the “security alert” was sent out as Edo State’s local government council chairs get ready to return to work on Monday, despite the governor and assembly’s recent suspension, which the attorney general of the Federation and a Benin high court have declared to be invalid.
The Nigeria Association for Public Opinion Research (NAFPOR) voiced alarm about the possible consequences of the President and IGP’s ongoing silence in a statement provided to this news outlet on Sunday.
NAFPOR claims that this silence is a serious threat to democracy, especially because the local government chairmen will soon resume their duties.
It stated that it had discovered grave risks to human life and property damage caused by those attempting to seize the elected Chairmen’s posts after they were illegally suspended.
According to NAFPOR’s findings, unless President Tinubu, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Inspector General of Police immediately make a public statement to discourage the continued mobilization of thugs at various Secretariats with the intention of impeding the democratically elected Chairmen from carrying out their duties to the public, the 18 Local Government Council Secretariats in Edo State may be subject to arson on Monday morning.
NAFPOR also drew attention to the concerning death threats against the Chairmen and their aides that are making the rounds on social media as they prepare to return to their legitimate duties.
They voiced their displeasure with the Nigerian Police Force’s lack of action during this crisis, pointing out that the deaths and damage of Local Government Council Secretariats in Rivers State were preventable due to the police’s tardy response.
Additionally, in line with the Supreme Court’s decision upholding local council autonomy, the Attorney General of the Federation has described the governor’s and the Edo State House of Assembly’s moves to end the Chairmen’s terms as unlawful.
The Chairmen are scheduled to return to work on Monday, but thugs have already broken into the secretariats of the several local Government Councils to wreak havoc. The sooner the Inspector General of Police warns these goons about a violent breakdown in Edo State, the better. We need to create a preventative, not reactive, proactive police force. It is time to avert the situation now, before the harm is done, NAFPOR said.
“The Nigeria Association For Public Opinion Research (NAFPOR) has called on President Bola Tinubu, the Inspector General of Police, and the AGF to make adequate security arrangements across every local Government Council Secretariat across Edo State as Council Chairmen are set to resume office on Monday as ordered by a Benin High Court in order to sustain the relative peace across the nation.” According to a statement released today in Lagos by the group’s National Publicity Secretary, Ufuoma Okiokpa, the statement reads:
As was recently seen in Rivers State, where council secretariats were set on fire, “the leadership of Nigeria security agencies are duty-bound to provide security for the democratically elected Council Chairmen in order to safeguard democracy.” They also cautioned political actors with subversive agendas against setting the State on fire on Monday.
Security Interests and Democratic Principles Are Threatened by Gov. Okpebholo’s Position NAFPOR also stated that the historic Supreme Court decision that gave local governments across the country autonomy must not be allowed to be undermined by the current position of Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo, which threatens the country’s democratic values and security interests.
A warning against the conduct of some disloyal politicians in the state who are allegedly assembling goons to cause disruption at several local government council secretariats on Monday morning was also included in the message.
According to NAFPOR, these politicians seem committed to using anti-democratic methods to sabotage the democratic process in order to forward their personal agendas, especially when it comes to holding another local government poll in defiance of the Nigerian Constitution. It is recommended that the police not take a backseat to rising tensions.
“The police must publicly assure residents and council employees of security because the tension throughout the state is already causing instability in several areas. According to research, some employees have left their local government headquarters because they believe the threats are quite serious. According to people in the various local governments, thugs who are prepared for chaos have already engulfed Oredo, Etsako East, Egor, Esan Central, Owan East and West, Akoko-Edo, and Etsako West, and employees are already terrified to go to work,” the organization said.
According to the organization, in a democratic era, Nigeria’s democracy cannot endure when elected Council Chairmen are violently attacked and forcibly removed from office in defiance of constitutional principles.
The EFCC absolved the Chairmen of all charges made in a petition submitted to the EFCC by the Governor on Thursday after calling them in for interrogation. If this impunity continues, other governors will probably follow suit and illegally remove Council Chairmen from office, making the Supreme Court useless—like a toothless dog that can only growl without taking action. The Nigerian judiciary is required to enforce its decisions.
The statement concluded by saying that law enforcement organizations have an obligation to uphold the rule of law in order to maintain general peace and security across the country.
