Polls: Be Neutral, Gen Enenche Urges INEC, Security Personnels
By Sunday Isuwa, Abuja
A former defence spokesman, Gen John Enenche has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other security personnel that will be involved in the conduct of the Saturday’s presidential election across the country to maintain neutrality.
According to Enenche, a lot of people have suffered adding that Saturday’s presidential election offers them an opportunity to elect a competent leader that will assuage the sufferings of the masses and move the country forward.
Speaking in an interview with LEADERSHIP, Enenche, who retired from the Nigerian Army as a two star general, said the electoral umpire and the Police who are the lead agencies when it comes to election conduct and security, should know that they have people depending on them to do the right thing.
Enenche, who expressed confidence in INEC and the security agencies, urged them to do the right thing and protect every candidate where necessary.
The former defence spokesman, Enenche, who also called on Nigerians to stay away from trouble and other acts that could affect the credibility of the election, added that despite the cash scarcity, Nigerians should ensure they vote for their freedom.
“My advice to the security agencies, particularly the lead agency, which is supposed to be the Nigerian Police, is to be firm. They should not be distracted. Why am I saying so? Sometimes human beings want to bend to pressure, for several reasons.
“From what we’ve gone through from the past eight years and even beyond 16 years, and 20 years, if you are a Policeman, you are a soldier, you are an immigration or the State Service personnel, you are just one person in the organisation and you have multiples that are relying on you. Your relations are suffering. That one alone should be a challenge.
“But I am urging the security personnel to go and stand their ground. Let the credible candidate that we’ve seen now emerge. We are not saying you should defend a particular candidate and leave out others. We are saying that just go and do your duty. Let the Policeman go and do his job and not be bought over or look the other way round.
“Whatever you are supposed to do, ensure you provide security. Let no voter be intimidated. That is my advice to the police.
“Then the order agencies that will support, particularly the State Services and the other intelligence services, let them put their eyes on the ground to ensure that nothing funny happens. For the military, they are supposed to be the back up. Ofcourse, I know that the military is always firm and fair. My advice to them is to remain committed to the constitution, remain committed to Nigerians and assure them that they are going to be fair to all. And in that way, this translates into providing the backup security to the Nigerian Police, and other security agencies. That’s my advice to them.
“Because I was there, I have a lot of dependents. So, I will not look at myself, but I look beyond myself, and once I look beyond myself, I should be able to do what I’m supposed to do. And what they are supposed to do is to ensure that they provide personal security, organisational security to INEC and all of them backing up the police,” Enenche said.
Enenche, who also advised Nigerians to ensure they vote competent people, added that the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) Mr Peter Obi has a track record Nigerians should consider.
“Peter Obi is a man with impeccable integrity, a man of strength. A man of physical fitness and mental alertness. Highly cognitive and focused which I couldn’t find amongst the other candidates.
“So, that was what informed my decision to endorse Peter Obi for Saturday’s presidential election and I believe that he will definitely make himself and Datti Baba Ahmed the example of good leadership in Nigeria.
“If the leadership is upright, the followership will follow. That is why I’m supporting Peter Obi. And I pray that comes the 25th, in the next couple of days, a few hours from now, that decision will be made by Nigerians. I’m hopeful and I want to encourage everybody to be prayerful about it and work towards ensuring that Peter Obi wins the election,” Enenche added.