CDS meets troops, stakeholders promises peaceful polls in Bayelsa
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, says the military is committed to protecting the nation’s democracy and ensuring peaceful governorship elections in Kogi, Bayelsa and Imo.
Musa gave the assurance during an interactive session with security agencies and stakeholders, on Tuesday in Yenagoa.
The CDS said the off-cycle governorship elections in the three states will be peaceful and credible in line with the directive of President Bola Tinubu.
Musa said he was in Bayelsa to assess the security situation and ensure proper security ahead of the Nov. 11 election.
The CDS warned those planning to perpetrate violence during the elections, and directed security agencies to protect the process and shun any attempt to compromise the polls.
He assured the stakeholders that the president has directed security agencies to intensify operations against sea piracy, illegal bunkering and pipeline vandalism to ensure that oil production output increases to boost the national economy.
“I have come with a very powerful team. We want to ensure that the state is fully secure and well protected so that Bayelsa will continue to develop.
“As Bayelsa develops, l am sure the rest of the South-South will develop and Nigeria too.
“Last week, we held a meeting with the National Security Adviser, the INEC Chairman and other stakeholders on the need to conduct credible and peaceful elections. For us, that is a marching order.”
He therefore said that the security agencies would act appropriately to thwart those planning to sabotage the election.
“Prior to the election, a number of steps will be taken to ensure that everywhere is calm and everybody is allowed to come out and vote.
“The era where people will use violence to intimidate voters and snatch ballot boxes is gone.
“We want to warn those who think it is their birthright to perpetrate violence during elections that henceforth it is not going to be business as usual,” Musa said.
He also warned security agents against any attempt to compromise the polls.
“If any of the security agencies stain the election, it is going to stain all of us and we are not going to allow that.
“Any member of the armed forces caught compromising the election risks a court-martial,” he said.
On his part Rear Admiral Olusegun Ferreira, the Commander Joint Task Force, Operation Delta Safe (OPDS), pledged to ensure peaceful governorship election in the state.
