Dean, Students, Affairs, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Dr Abdullahi Modibbo yesterday urged security agencies to maintain absolute neutrality before, during and after the 2019 General Elections, to win the confidence of electorate.
Modibbo gave the advice at a One-day Security Summit organised by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nasarawa State Command, Keffi Division, in collaboration with the Keffi Development Foundation (KDF) in Keffi.
The reports that the theme of the summit is, “Managing Violence Before, During and After 2019 General Elections.”
The don said electoral violence could lead to loss of innocent lives and properties particularly, the young and vibrant segment of the population, which could serve as engine of economic development.
He noted that the role of the security agencies in ensuring free, fair and credible elections could not be overemphasised, stressing that security agencies must be awake to their constitutional responsibility of maintaining law and order.
Modibbo also emphasised the need for synergy among all the security agencies to check desperation by political gladiators by ensuring that all political leaders conformed to the rules of the game.
He urged security agencies to check vote buying within and outside polling unit, saying that, “the use of intelligence will help in this direction.”
Similarly, the don advised the security agencies to check the negative role of Social Media, particularly hate speech and fake news.
Modibbo, however, advised the Federal Government to improve funding to security agencies, ensure better remuneration and election incentives to guide them against the machinations of desperate politicians.
He recommended that all electoral bodies should be placed on first line charge, obtaining their funds directly from Revenue Allocation Committee of the federation without any executive approval.
The Commandant, NSCDC, Nasarawa State, Muhammad Fari, said peaceful, credible and acceptable election was critical to the nation’s economic growth, social development and security.
Fari, however, said the task of defending the honour and dignity of the country was a collective responsibility of all citizens.
He added that the security of Nigeria could not be left to the security organisations alone, adding that citizen must contribute his or her quota to enhance the safety of lives and properties in the country.
He assured the residents of the commitment of NSCDC Nasarawa command to discharge its responsibility of protecting lives and properties.
The summit was attended by religious leaders, leaders of youth and cultural organisations, district heads, representatives of political parties, leadership of Market Women Association and others.