Fubara Tasks Military On Peaceful Off-Cycle Polls

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said that the forthcoming off-season election in some selected states should be conducted in a free, credible and transparent manner.
The governor also charged the military to do everything possible to be professional in order not to truncate the democratic process.
Fubara gave the advice when he played host to the 18th Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwarbin Musa, on a courtesy visit to Government House in Port Harcourt, last Wednesday.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant on Media to the Governor of Rivers State, Boniface Onyedi.
He noted that President Bola Tinubu was also interested in free, credible and fair elections in order to allow the will of the electorate to prevail.
This is why he has given matching orders to the military to ensure that there is no intimidation or molestation during the electioneering period, Fubara explained.
“The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has his theme, which is: ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’, and I strongly believe that free and fair elections are part of it. That is why he must have commissioned you to make sure that this off-season election is conducted in a manner that will reflect that the people voted for who they want.
“So, I want to thank you for taking the pains, moving from one state to another to put the right things in place. I strongly believe that this off-season election is going to be transparent and one of the best ever conducted.”
Fubara also applauded the Army, Navy and Air Force for the various roles played, complimenting the Nigerian Police, in helping to ensure security in Rivers State.
On the recent political crisis in the state, Fubara assured that it was a family affair, adding that whatever the issues are would be resolved amicably.
He further stated that the political tension raised in the state would be doused and every contending issues amicably resolved for the state to move forward.
On his part, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwarbin Musa, assured the Rivers State governor that the military would not renege on their statutory mandate of maintaining peace and preserving the unity of Nigeria.
Musa said modalities have been put in place to ensure peaceful conduct of the November 11 off-season elections, warning that any officer that compromises the process would be arrested and prosecuted.
The Chief of Defence Staff, who acknowledged the strategic importance and contributions of Rivers State to Nigeria’s economic development, assured the protection of the nation’s assets and territorial integrity, while also checking the menace of crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism.