Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 5, Hashiru Argungu, yesterday raised alarm over an alleged plot by some politicians in Bayelsa, Edo and Delta states to throw the region into a state of anarchy ahead of the 2015 elections.
Argungu said the politicians, whom he termed “elements” were within the states and were capable of threatening the security and safety of the people.
Argungu, who was in company of the Bayelsa state Police Commissioner, Hillary Okpara, told leaders of political parties and the Conference of the Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) that failure of the police to quickly act and stop such activities would result into anarchy.
Argungu, while addressing leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by the State Secretary, Keku Godspower, the All Progressive Congress (APC) represented by Tonye Okio and Chief Joel Tubonimi, and others at the state Police Headquarters in Yenagoa, warned the political class should be mindful of the existence of some elements engaging in activities capable of throwing the country into a state of anarchy.
He said: “You are all aware that the security of life and property is a major factor to our collective well being and this for all intent and purposes cannot be compromised. To do so will mean an invitation to anarchy. However, events in recent times have shown that there are elements within our society who, for selfish interests, are engaging in activities capable of threatening the security and public safety which we all crave for. Our democracy cannot flourish in an atmosphere of insecurity and threat to security.”
In his contribution, the representative of the state chairman of the APC, Tonye Okio, noted that though past involvement of the men of the Nigerian Police in elections had been questionable, “their involvement in the coming elections should be fair due to the peculiarity of the state as the president’s home state.” “Past allegations of fraud and intimidation should be checked.”
