By Mary BASSEY, Senior Investigator Correspondent, Lagos/
LAGOS- THE NIGERIAN Army has said that it has emplaced all necessary machineries for a violence-free conduct of the forthcoming general elections assuring that it would ensure that the exercise was devoid of bloodshed.
The General Officer Commanding 81 Division Major General Obinna Ajunwa who dropped the hint in Lagos during an exclusive media chat with select journalists at this Ikoyi resident said all hands must be on deck to ensure that the election was free, fair and credible for Nigerians. General Ajunwa noted that both the media and security agencies were equal stakeholders in the business of nation building adding that we must each contribute our quota in the quest to rebuild the nation.
He noted that, “We will not allow any body’s ambition consume the lives of innocent Nigerians. If we are able to achieve election that is free of violence, we would be very happy. I implore all of us to ignore our personal desires, and maintain peace. I’m sure that whoever that wins is going to work for Nigeria not for an individual. saying “We are highly apolitical,” and ready to work with anyone the citizens elect, but will not sit back and watch innocent blood being shed all in the name of election. For us that are responsible for physical security, we are not sleeping. We would continue to make criminals uncomfortable and keep them at bay. We are okay ensuring that no innocent person dies because somebody wants to become somebody. Those who are innocent, law abiding and follow the rule of law, follow the due process and cast their votes, wait or go home, we shall provide them adequate security and ensure no harm comes to them. But for those who want to thwart the system, we cannot say what those on ground will do to them.”
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Reiterating the need for collective responsibility in nation building, the GOC stressed, “I cannot do a journalist job, so also a journalist cannot do my job. The society needs the journalists just as it needs someone from the security agencies. However, everything put together we are able to achieve a lot for the security. Without security, there can’t be development and vice-versa. We are all equal stakeholders. We all own the country together. Sometimes, we are tasked to carry out some responsibilities that the society think is very important, but that doesn’t reduce the importance of the other person. I have been asked questions on the coming election. However, I want to asked how prepared are you as journalists because you have the ears to listen and the biro to write. Sometimes, you know more than I know and hear which defines the concept of ‘see something and say something.”
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