The Commissioner of Police for Osun State, Peter Abayomi, has again reiterated that he is in the state to provide a level playing ground for all political actors and to ensure that the people perform their civic responsibility in a free and fair atmosphere devoid of intimidation, harassment and threat to violence.
CP Abayomi also assured the residents of the state of a peaceful House of Assembly election on Saturday.
He also urged the electorates to come out in large numbers to cast their votes without fear of harassment and intimidation from any quarters because their security has been guaranteed 100 per cent.
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Recall that in Osun State, there would not be a gubernatorial election due to the July 16, 2022, gubernatorial election which ushered in the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke.
Abayomi, who was responding to questions on a radio programme on Friday in Osogbo, revealed that security for the election is top-notch because the security services and the military have concluded plans to ensure the success of the poll.
In his words, “We have mapped out our deployment plan to the various polling units and collation centres in all the local government areas in the state.
“We are doing this in synergy with sister security services, including the military.
“INEC has deployed both sensitive and non-sensitive materials to their various destinations.
“We have done our threat analysis of likely volatile areas and we are working around to ensure we will tackle headlong infractions that could happen in these identified areas.
“As part of arrangements, we have concluded plans to meet with stakeholders today and to have a meeting with them on the need for them to play within the rules of the game and allow the people to decide.
“We also have in place rapid response units detailed to different areas in case of emergencies.
“The military would also assist the security agencies to lock down the state in accordance with the restrictions of movement directed by the Inspector General of Police.”
On the allegations of bias levelled against the Nigerian Police by the Osun chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Abayomi asked the party to come up with proof.
While asking politicians to separate politics from criminality, he said whoever was arrested had a case to answer.
“The position of law is that whoever alleges must prove. We should remove crime from politics. To the best of my knowledge, whoever was arrested must have a case to answer.
“If my person is being accused of bias, they should prove it with facts.
“If you are a politician and you’re involved in crime, I don’t think being a politician has removed the criminal liability on you to answer to charges against you.
“Politicians should learn to remove crime from politics so that we can have a sane and safe society for all to live in.
“However, let me state unequivocally that crime is not status bound. There is no status of limitation to criminality. If you commit a crime, you can be attested anytime. If anybody who claims to be innocent is arrested, the law should be explored to enforce the person’s innocence.
“But mere allegations of bias, people being arrested or intimidation does not hold water and I would not want to dwell on that issue.
“I want to tell you that I am in this state to provide a level playing ground for all political actors and to ensure that the good people of Osun State perform their civic responsibility in a free and fair atmosphere devoid of intimidation, harassment and threat to violence.
“Wherever we are doing is in the best interest of the state and people should not misconstrue it as being biased,” he concluded.
