The former military administrator of Abia State, Vice Air Marshal Frank Ajobena (retired), has told the Independent National Election Commission to be more proactive in the security of its facilities and personnel, including ad hoc staff consisting mainly of members of the National Youth Service Corps, as the 2023 general election approaches.
Likewise, he called on the electoral body to “be very firm with political actors, especially with those who are encouraging banditry.”
Making the call Monday while addressing journalists in the Egberode community in the Okpe local government area of Delta state, Ajobena declared that “INEC should be tough on those who encourage political assassinations or heat up politics.” .
“Although INEC has assured everyone that they will conduct free and fair elections through the use of the BVAS, it is advisable that the electoral referee also take very seriously the issue of the security of facilities and personnel, now that the preparations they are running. the ballot box,” he stated.
The former member of the All Progressives Congress national caucus, before leaving partisan politics, noted that zoning, the political background of government contenders, as well as the strength of political parties fielding candidates are among the factors that would determine the winners in the next elections.
However, he advised electorates to “shine their eyes” and take decisive action at the polls.
He said: “The security situation in the country is terribly bad. I doubt that people can now sleep with both eyes closed anywhere in the country. Now we are worse. Those who sponsor terror, what measures have been taken to confront them? Some of them are even spokesmen for terrorists.
“You must see that the government is taking steps to deal with such crimes. On the issue of the herdsmen, the government has remained silent on them while the killings persist.
The government must do something to unravel this mystery of unknown gunmen.
“In addition, inflation and the collapse of the naira along with mass unemployment in the country and the sky-high exchange rate are clear indicators of economic failure.
“And in the face of all this, corruption continues to thrive in the country despite the government’s verbiage. We see people who had been convicted and released overnight. It is getting worse.
“The 2023 General Election will provide Nigerians with a golden opportunity to make decisions on which of the candidates they believe would be in a better position to ensure their safety and also lift the population out of their precarious conditions. That is, candidates who have the pedigree to address these issues directly.
“Each voter has the responsibility to weigh their options on which of these candidates or parties can address the problems of insecurity, in particular terrorism and banditry, the economy, corruption and others that have plagued the country.”
