Ahead of the Local Government elections taking place this weekend, the Bayelsa State Governor, Hon Seriake Dickson has called on the security agencies to step up efforts at ensuring a hitch-free local government election.
Governor Dickson made the call at a State Security Council meeting in Government House, Yenagoa.
While commending the Security operatives for their dedication and commitment to the cause of keeping the peace, Hon. Dickson charged them to not to rest on their oars as government would not compromise the safety of the people.
Governor Dickson also urged the people of the State to play by the rules, stressing that his administration would not condone any act of lawlessness that could threaten the peace and stability of the state.
He called on traditional rulers, opinion and political leaders to cooperate with the various security agencies and electoral officials who would be deployed to their communities to conduct the election.
Governor Dickson enjoined the people to turn out en-masse to exercise their franchise, assuring that government has made all necessary arrangements to ensure their safety before, during and after the election.
In his words: “Let me use this opportunity to assure the people of this state that on Saturday, during the Local Government election, they should feel free and come out en-masse to cast their ballot for their preferred candidates and parties. We are working hard to ensure that nothing untoward happens. I want to also use this opportunity to call on candidates and party leaders to play by the rules and because we are committed to our policy of zero tolerance on criminality and violence particularly, electoral violence, we are not going to condone thuggery, violence in the guise of politics and any act of brigandage in any of our communities.”
Briefing Government House correspondents, shortly after the meeting, the state Commissioner of Police, CP. Kings Omire said arrangements for the deployment of security personnel to the various local governments have been concluded.
Expressing the preparedness of security agencies for the election, Mr. Omire reminded the candidates and their supporters of the deadline for campaigns which he said ends at midnight of Thursday, the 21ST of March, 2013.
