Police Boss Hails Rivers Electorate Over Peaceful Polls

Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Yakubu Alkali, who was deployed to Rivers State to monitor the just-concluded general elections, has attributed the success achieved by security agencies during the exercise to the undiluted cooperation of Rivers people, particularly the electorate.

Speaking in an interview with The Tide at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, Mr. Alkali who was returning to his Lagos Police Command, commended the way and manner the people of Rivers State, the press and other stakeholders including politicians conducted themselves throughout the period.

According to him, elections in the state were very peaceful and all concerned were patient at all levels of the polls, saying “we did not experience any serious conflict in any part of the state”.

Appealing to the people to maintain and improve upon the tempo during the forthcoming local government elections. The Lagos police boss who described democratic dispensation as a global norm said Nigeria cannot afford to lag behind in the 21st century.

“Nigeria cannot afford to remain behind in this 21st century in achieving acceptable electoral standard. Democratic dispensation is a global thing which is the hub of government worldwide, so for us to exist as one, we have to eschew religious and ethnicity squabbles to co-exist peacefully”, he stressed.

Giving kudos to President Goodluck Jonathan for keeping to his promise to ensure free, fair and credible elections for the country, Alkali said “it’s a sine qua non that we must co-exist to achieve desired development”.

He thanked the federal government and the inspector-general of police for making available all the required allowances and logistics that enhanced the functions of security operatives during the period, pointing out that the police in the state followed all instructions given them religiously.

Alkali praised the press for being upright in the coverage of the entire exercise, saying there were no aggressive publications and urged them to continue in that direction in the interest of peace and unity of the country.

He noted that the alleged case of a police man that was beaten up by a gubernatorial candidate on the Election Day is still under investigation, adding that at the end, the culprit would be made to face the music.

Shedie Okpara