Rivers Monarchs Task Police On Free, Fair Polls

Barely few weeks to the general elections, the Nigeria Police and other security agencies have been charged to ensure fair and violence-free election with a view to preventing bye-elections that have characterised past polls in the country.
The Chairman, Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers and Amanyanabo of Opobo Kingdom, King Dandeson Douglas Jaja gave the charge when the new Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, Usman Belel paid a familiarisation visit to the council in Port Harcourt.
King Jaja said, the visit was appropriate as they are the custodians of the people’s customs and tradition at the grassroots, adding that police, being friends of the people, should be professional in the discharge of their duties in Rivers State before, during and after the elections.
He Monarch recalled ill fated 2015 elections and enjoined security agents to ensure peaceful polls and security of lives and property in the state.
He condemned the disruption of the training of the Rivers State Neighbourhood Corps set up by the state government to help the agencies curb crime and criminality at the grassroots by operatives of the Nigerian Army, which according to him had been operational in some states in the country and called on the Federal Government to lift the embargo on the outfitting as it was backed by law from the state House of Assembly.
He stated that the Rivers State Government is doing enough for the Nigeria Police and other security agent to ensure their smooth operations which needed to be applauded by the Federal Government and assured that they would partner with the police to ensure security of lives and property in their various domains.
In his vote to thanks, the Amanyanabo of Kirike Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, King Tamuno-Omisiki Ogube further assured the new Commissioner of Police that the traditional rulers would support his efforts in their various kingdoms to maintain the peace.
He enjoined him not to be partisan but to ensure credible, free and fair elections in the state.
Earlier, the Police Commissioner, Usman Belle said he was at the council secretariat to rub minds,, interface and synergise with them on how to further police the communities and thanked them for their royal blessings.

Collins Barasimeye