Nation
Osun Police Meet With Political Parties Ahead Of Governorship Election
Osun State Police Command held a peace meeting with political parties yesterday in Osogbo, ahead of party primaries and the state’s governorship election scheduled for July.
Speaking at the meeting, DCP Kanayo Uzuegbu said there was the need to ensure that political parties abided by electoral rules.
He represented CP Olawale Olokode, head of the Police in Osun State at the meeting.
“The move is very important to put political parties and other stakeholders on their toes to abide by the rules and regulations guiding the conduct of peaceful, credible and violence-free elections.
“We are all aware that the governorship election in Osun State will take place in July and political parties have begun necessary and required preparations for the process.
“In accordance with the timetable released by INEC on the election, signed by its Secretary, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, build-ups to the election began on Feb. 15.
“The notice also indicated that Feb. 16 to March 12 is fixed for political parties to conduct their primaries and resolve disputes that may arise from them.
“April 17 is the official date for the commencement of campaigns by parties,’’ DCP Uzuegbu said.
He also told the meeting that the timetable was properly admissible to the Police and would be followed to the letter.
“It is very important to state that political activities, party primaries, consultation visits, campaigns and others are legal, so far as they are within the confines of the Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution.
“I enjoin all political parties and groups to play the game by the rules and allow themselves and their activities to be guided by the provisions of the Electoral Act.
“I advise politicians and other members of the public who may be supporting political parties to always formally inform the Command before embarking on processions, assemblies, campaigns or rallies.
“This is to allow for the making of necessary security arrangements that will prevent any breakdown of law and order.
“I assure all political parties of a level playing ground before, during and after the election.
“I also want to assure the entire people of the state that the Police will leave no stone unturned in ensuring security of lives and properties before, during and after the election period,’’ he added.
DCP Uzuegbu also said that it was imperative to warn politicians and others to avoid taking laws into their hands and to always trust that the Police in Osun State are always gallant and will do the right thing if properly briefed.
“All processions, primaries, consultation visits and rallies must be peaceful and be in accordance with the Electoral Act and respect for the rights and safety of everybody.
“The idea of unnecessary blocking of roads during campaigns, rallies and processions without due process, attacking innocent citizens unjustly, and assaulting security men on duty will not be tolerated.
“Anyone, irrespective of his status, who breaches public peace, will be punished according to the law.
“I urge youths not to allow themselves to be used as political thugs or as destructive agents.
“I equally advise so-called political thugs to, in their interest, vacate the state immediately as the command will not condone any act of indiscipline or allow anybody to truncate the peaceful atmosphere in the state,’’ DCP Uzuegbu said.
Political parties at the meeting were the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Action Democratic Party (ADP).
The quartet signed a peace accord with the police at the meeting.
The Rivers state Government has identified six local government areas with the highest burden of maternal and Neonatal mortality in the state.
State Commissioner for Health Dr Adaeze Chidinma Oreh said this in an interview with newsmen at the Maternal and Neonatal Reduction innovation initiative ( Mamii)Rivers state activation workshop and state engagement meeting in Port Harcourt.
The event was organized by The Federal Ministry of Health in conjunction with its Rivers state counterpart in Port Harcourt.
Dr Oreh also restated the preparedness of the state government to support current efforts by the federal government towards the reduction of maternal and infant mortalities in the country.
She mentioned the affected Local Government Areas to include, Andoni,Akuku Toru and Ahoada West
The rest according to the Commissioner are, Bonny, Etche and Emohua Local Government Areas.
She said the workshop will enable the team from the federal ministry of health and social welfare to brainstorm with the view to finding solution to the problem.
The Commissioner also gave reasons why the Mamii initiative was the best as far as finding solution to maternal mortality was concerned.
“The uniqueness of the Mamii initiative driven by the federal ministry of health and social welfare was that we used evidence to elicit the reasons for this deaths, so that the solutions will be context specific and tailored to the particular environment where those deaths are occuring
“For us in Rivers state we have six Mamii LGAs , nationally we we have 172 local government areas “the Commissioner said.
Earlier in her opening remarks,Dr Oreh said the state government is prepared to work with the federal ministry of health and social welfare to check the rate of maternal mortality in the state.
She commended The Minister of Health and Social welfare Professor Ali Muhammad Pategi for driving the Mamii initiative across the country and expressed optimism that the programm will see to the end of maternal mortality in the country.
Also speaking the National Coordinator Nigeria health sector Renewal Initiative Dr Adam Ahmed said Rivers state is the last state among Mamii states in the country to host the team.
He said the team will visit the affected Local Government Areas with the view to interacting with the people on how to check the trend.
He expressed the hope that with continuous efforts, maternal mortality will be checked.
Also speaking the permanent secretary Rivers state Ministry of Health Professor Justinah Jumbo said the government is not leaving any stone unturned towards reduction in maternal deaths.
The permanent secretary said Governor Siminalaye Fubara is a health friendly Governor who is desirous in improving the quality of health of Rivers people.
John Bibor
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Rivers state has declared a one day fasting and prayer to seek divine intervention on the political crisis rocking the state.
The Association said this at a media briefing in Port Harcourt.
State chairman of the Association,Most Rev. Dokiboeriya B. Kaladokubo said the fasting and prayer which holds February 5th at the Ecumenical center Abonnema wharf was in furtherance of the Association peace, advocacy, good governance and political stability in Rivers state.
He said the Association has observed with disappointment the dangerous trend and and gradual descent of governance in Rivers state into uncertainty and near oblivion, adding that the trend has exposed Rivers citizens to insecurity, economic hardship, loss of livelihood and the destruction of lives and property.
Kaladokubo said the association has also watched with dismay the unfolding political crisis in the state, stressing “what we see today is not merely a disagreement among political actors,it is a dangerous drift that threatens the very foundation of governance, peace, security and the collective well-being of our people”
According to him,”as the custodians of the spiritual and moral conscience of Rivers state,we can not remain silent while the state is pushed steadily towards chaos, institutional breakdown and avoidable suffering
“We are not oblivious of the fact that Rivers state like some other states in the federation often experience tension between the Executive and the Legislature “adding”when disagreement escalate they can hinder governance, delay budgets ,erode public trust and impede peaceful, constructive development”
The Christian body stressed the need for parties involved in the conflict to seek for peaceful resolution, stressing that as Christians and children of God “we should seek the path of peace and reconciliation as Christ Himself taught us”it said
The Association further encourage the both arms of government to imbibe the spirit of forgiveness and prioritize good governance in Rivers state
“We also advised all the parties in these conflict to call their supporters to exercise restraint in all their utterances and de-escalate tension in the interest of peace in Rivers state ”
CAN also described as disturbing the role some elder statesmen and individuals in the state have played and continue to play in the crisis when they should have serve as voices of wisdom, restraint and unity
“Rather than guiding the process towards peace, some have taken sides,fueled division and encouraged instability becoming more dangerous than those currently holding power”,it said.
John Bibor
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