News Editor
By Our Correspondent
A group under the auspices of the Nigeria Association For Public Opinion Research (NAFPOR) has advised president Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Inspector General of police and the Director General of the Department of State Services to take urgent steps to avert possible breakdown of law and order at the Local government Councils in the state.
The group who gave the warning said it has become neccesary because of the consequences of the continuous silence of President Bola Tinubu, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Director-General of the Department of State Service (DSS) “in defending the imminent threat to democracy ahead of the resumption of the local government council chairmen in Edo” tomorrow, Monday, December 23, 2024.
The group said that investigation by it “has revealed deep threat to human life and destruction of properties by those already clamouring to take over as Chairmen from the elected Chairmen that were unlawfully suspended.”
It would be recalled that Edo State Local Government Council Chairmen said to be ready to resume duty on Monday in line with the declaration of both the Minister of Justice and a Benin High Court that have declared the suspension of the Council Chairmen by Governor Monday Okpebholo and the Edo State House of Assembly null and void.
According to the group, “Research has revealed that the 18 local Government Council Secretariats in Edo State May witness near anarchy on Monday morning, if President Bola Tinubu, the DSS and IGP do not immediately issue a public Statement to caution against the ongoing positioning of thugs across the various Secretariats to prevent the democratically elected council Chairmen from continuing their service to the masses,”
NAFPOR said in a statement issued on Sunday morning in Lagos that “the death threats across various social media platforms to kill Chairmen and their Aides who resume their lawful duty has gone beyond the ongoing silence by the Nigerian Police Force.”
It expressed dissatisfaction over the silence of President Tinubu, the Nigeria Police and DSS in the ongoing crisis, noting that the late intervention of the police in Rivers State was the reason for the death and burning down of Local Government Council Secretariats which could have been prevented.
NAFPOR recalled that the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Justice Minister, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has described the action of the Edo State House of Assembly and Governor Okpebholo in terminating Council Chairmen’s tenure as illegal in line with the Supreme Court judgement that granted the councils autonomy.
“The Chairmen are set to resume office on Monday but as of now thugs have invaded the various local Government Council Secretariats to cause mayhem. The earlier the Inspector General of Police caution these thugs against violent, and breakdown of law and order in Edo State, the better.
“We must build a proactive police system that is preventive and not reactive. Now that the crisis is brewing, it is the right time to stop it, not after the damage is done,”, NAFPOR said in the statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary, Ufuoma Okiokpa.
According to the statement, “To sustain the relative peace across the nation, the Nigeria Association For Public Opinion Research NAFPOR has called on President Bola Tinubu, the Inspector General of Police and the DSS to make adequate security arrangements across every local Government Council Secretariat across Edo State as Council Chairmen are set to resume office on Monday as ordered by a Benin High Court in order to avoid deaths and the burning down of government properties as thugs are already positioned across the councils to prevent the Chairmen from resumption.
“The leadership of Nigeria security agencies are duty-bound to provide security for the democratically elected Council Chairmen to safeguard democracy and also warned political actors with subversive agenda not to set the State ablaze on Monday as was witnessed in Rivers State recently where council Secretariats were on fire.”
NAFPOR maintained that the current posture of the Governor of Edo State is inimical to the nation’s democratic and security interests and should not be allowed to undermine the Supreme Court landmark judgement that granted autonomy to local Governments across the country.
“The Nigeria Police must show to Nigerians at this point that they are ready to defend the rule of law by enforcing the Supreme Court’s position by ensuring stable security situation across Edo State. This call is urgent,” NAFPOR said.
The statement further cautioned “this unpatriotic brand of politicians in the state who are currently deploying thugs across various local government Council Secretariats to cause mayhem on Monday morning. These politicians seem to be bent on deploying undemocratic means to truncate the democratic heritage in advancement of their hurried interest in conducting another local Government election against the Nigerian Constitution.”
Warning that “the Police and DSS can’t be silent when war is brewing,” NAFPOR said:
“The tension across the State is already creating insecurity in various quarters, the Police must take a public position by assuring citizens and council workers of security.
Research reveals that some workers have travelled away from their local Government headquarters as the threats seem very intense. Oredo, Etsako East, Egor, Esan Central, Owan East and West, Akoko-Edo and Etsako West have already been submerged by thugs who are ready for mayhem and workers are already afraid to work according to those in the various local governments.”
“Nigeria’s democracy can’t remain firmly on cause when elected Council Chairmen are forcefully thrown out of office against the constitution in a democratic dispensation.
The EFCC invited the Chairmen and investigated them on Thursday and vindicated them of every allegation raised in a petition by the Governor to the EFCC. If this impunity is allowed to continue, that means by next week other Governors will also throw out Council Chairmen from office and the Supreme Court will be rendered as a toothless dog that bark and can’t bite.
The Nigerian Judiciary must also defend their judgement. It behoves on law enforcement agencies to enforce the law of the land for the overall peace and security across the nation,” the statement added.
