By Ahmed Ajikobi
The Kwara Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has warned its officers to be guided by the operational order and code of conduct during Saturday’s election.
The Kwara Sector Commander, Uchechukwu Wihioka told newsmen on the sidelines of the capacity building programme on election duties for FRSC officers in Ilorin, yesterday.
According to him, FRSC officials and their equivalents from other security agencies are to augment the conventional supervisory roles of the police.
He charged the officers to comply with instruction as provided in the operational orders.
Meanwhile, to ensure free and fair election, he said the command will deploy 587 officers to work alongside other security agencies.
“We are working in collaboration with sister agencies to bring in their men to argument the efforts of the corps.
“We expect to see Nigeria witness free and transparent elections, devoid of crashes on our roads,” he said.
Reading the address of the Corps Marshal, Boboye Oyeyemi, Wihioka, said that the capacity building is a commitment of the FRSC in providing security and logistic support to the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC).
He said, “FRSC participation in the 2019 general elections will involve certifying all vehicles to be used for conveying election materials and personnel.
“As a member of the Inter-Agency Consultation Committee on Election Security (ICCES) and Inter-Ministerial Advisory Committee on logistics for the 2019 elections with specific responsibility of ensuring safe and free movement of election vehicles and materials as well as personnel.”
In his lecture, the Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, who was represented by Superintendent of Police, Moses Fobode emphasised the importance of communication and collaboration of security agencies during the exercise.
He said the arrest of election offenders should not be seen as a sole responsibility of the police, but that of all security agencies.
“We are preparing our men and sister security agencies against some risks they may face at their various stations.
“Some of these risks include hate speech, thuggery and some politicians may want to give our officers money.
” We are saying no to any form of bribery during the election and hate speeches should not be tolerated by security agencies.
“All officers deployed should have access to communication with their superiors, in case there is need for back up.
” The police is seeking collaboration with sister agencies as the our role of securing lives and properties continues even after the elections”, he said.
Reacting, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, INEC, represented by the Head Voter Registration, Adesina Adetayo said that the Commission will work with security agencies to ensure free, fair and peaceful elections.
In attendance were the Chief Executive Officer of Kwara Road Traffic Management Authority (KWARTMA), Alhaji Yekini Bello, members of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and National Association of Road Transport Owners(NARTO), among others.
