Elections: FG reads riot act to political acts over firearms build-up, hate speech

Elections: FG reads riot act to political acts over firearms build-up, hate speech

The Federal Government has read riot act to political actors over reports of firearms build-up with intent to threaten the electoral process and National Security in the country ahead of the general elections starting February.

The National Security Adviser (NSA) Maj-Gen. Monguno (rtd), gave this warning on Friday during the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) at the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) in Abuja.

Monguno who is the co-chairman of ICCES stressed that desperation of some politicians in circumventing the electoral laws, ethics, and moral dictates by resorting to thuggery, armed violence, disruption of the voting process, and vote buying, was another concern.

According to him, “All of these constitutes not only serious electoral infractions, but major national security threats.”

He warned that any political actor whose conduct threatens national security be dealt with.

“Any political actor who by his or her conduct threatens the electoral process, contravenes the law or endanger national security and democratic values will be isolated and dealt with in the most professional and pro-active manner.

“Politicians are, therefore, strongly advised to place national security interests above narrow political considerations by situating all their electioneering activities within the provisions of the Electoral Act and other relevant laws.

“Electoral offences and sundry misconducts that could threaten national security and the electoral process will be decisively dealt with.

“It needs to be emphasised that the level of responsibility and patriotism demonstrated by politicians and their loyalists are critical to the integrity of the electoral process and the credibility of the outcome,” he said.

Monguno while urging Nigerians to resist the temptation of being used as cannon folders during the elections by ‘misguided and desperate politicians.”, charged all security agencies to protect citizens’ rights, within law.

He also charged them to work in harmony and within professional and legal dictates, and shall collaborate effectively with the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in guaranteeing a successful 2019 General Elections.

As part of efforts in ensuring a peaceful elections, Monguno informed that the ICCES meeting was convened to evaluate the level of preparedness of the Nigeria Police Force as the lead election security agency, the Armed Forces, and other complementary security agencies towards the general elections.

Also speaking, the Co chairman of the ICCES and chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) Mahmood Yakubu assured that the commissions preparations are on course.

He said: “We are looking forward to a collaborative relationship with security agencies to ensure that processes are protected and the right of voters to vote are safeguarded, access for the media and observers guaranteed to ensure that the elections and outcomes are true reflections of the will of Nigerians”.

By PRNigeria

BRIEF REMARKS BY MAJ. GEN. BM MONGUNO (RTD), THE NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER DURING THE INTER-AGENCY CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE ON ELECTION SECURITY (ICCES) MEETING HOSTED BY THE OFFICE OF THE NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER (ONSA) ON …………..

Protocols

I am delighted to welcome you all to this all-important meeting in my dual capacity as the National Security Adviser and the co-chair of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES). Today’s meeting is coming just about a week after the previous one which was hosted by the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission and co-chair of ICCES, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu at the INEC Headquarters. This underscores the commitment of ICCES to firm up plans well enough to guarantee the delivery of a peaceful, secure and credible general election in line with the determination of President Muhammadu Buhari.

2. Ladies and gentlemen, today’s meeting was convened to review three critical areas in the election security service delivery process. First is to evaluate the level of preparedness of the Nigeria Police Force as the lead election security agency, the Armed Forces, and other complementary security agencies towards the general elections. In so doing budgetary, logistics, and personnel gaps shall be identified and discussed in details. Second is to review operational strategies, inter-agency coordination frameworks and sundry operational issues which could be critical to the optimal performance of security agencies, going by the experience from previous elections. Third is to, in conjunction with the INEC leadership, identify general and specific grounds that need to be covered in guaranteeing a peaceful and credible electoral process and outcome. At the end of the meeting it is anticipated that appropriate actions directed at mitigating identified challenges shall be emplaced and a common and well-coordinated election security operational plan will be evolved.

3. Ladies and gentlemen, the credibility of the electoral process is key to the strengthening of our democratic credentials, national security and development. In cognisance of this, I wish to renew our assurance to the nation and the international community of the unwavering commitment of the Federal Government to emplace strategies and initiate actions that will guarantee a peaceful and secure environment for the electorates to freely exercise their voting rights. All security agencies are resolved to work in harmony and within professional and legal dictates, and shall collaborate effectively with the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in guaranteeing a successful 2019 General Elections. I am, in my capacity as the National Security Adviser, committed working with INEC leadership, Service Chiefs and Heads of all security agencies in exploring and evolving fresh thoughts and novel frameworks towards achieving these objectives.

4. It is in furtherance to this that the Office of the National Security Adviser organised the recently concluded Election Security Management training for Operations Officers in the Nigeria Police, Armed Forces, and the Intelligence and other Security Agencies under the theme ‘Election Security Management: Pathway to a Credible Electoral Process in Nigeria’. The Independent National Electoral Commission have also organised similar purpose-built trainings for not just their staff, but for security agencies with a view to aligning their knowledge and operations to modern thoughts and best global practices, preparatory to the general elections.

5. As we continually explore strategic approaches towards guaranteeing optimal and professional security service delivery during the 2019 general electoral engagements, we remain genuinely concerned about the desperation of some politicians in circumventing the electoral laws, ethics, and moral dictates by resorting to thuggery, armed violence, disruption of the voting process, and of late, the brazen misdemeanour of vote buying. Even more worrisome are recent reports of firearms build-up by some political actors with intent to threaten the electoral process and the political order in the country. All of these constitutes not only serious electoral infractions, but major national security threats.

6. Regardless of the stringency of the Electoral Law, the commitment of the Independent National Electoral Commission, and the dedication of the National Security Adviser and security agencies, it needs to be emphasised that the level of responsibility and patriotism demonstrated by politicians and their loyalists are critical to the integrity of the electoral process and the credibility of the outcome. Politicians are, therefore, strongly advised to place national security interests above narrow political considerations by situating all their electioneering activities within the provisions of the Electoral Act and other relevant laws. Any political actor who by his or her conduct threatens the electoral process, contravenes the law or endanger national security and democratic values will be isolated and dealt with in the most professional and pro-active manner.

7. Similarly, citizens are urged to resist the temptation of being used as cannon folders during the elections by misguided and desperate politicians. While security agencies will strive to protect citizens’ rights, such shall be to the extent that they perform their civic obligations within the dictates of the law. Electoral offences and sundry misconducts that could threaten national security and the electoral process will be decisively dealt with.

8. In concluding, I must again highlight the potent consequences of hate speeches on our polity. At a time that electioneering campaigns and other political activities are at the peak, hate speeches, misinformation, and unguarded political utterances which are insensitive to our ethno-religious realities or national security interests could inflame passion and engender politically-motivated violence beyond imaginable bounds. It is in this regard that I wish to caution political actors and citizens to avoid speeches that could threaten our democracy in the course of their political engagements. Media practitioners, particularly, the social media actors are also enjoined to balance their reportage with national security interests, for it is only under a peaceful order that our democracy could be nurtured.

9. I specially commend the leadership of INEC for being resolute in their drive towards the attainment of their statutory mandate. I charge all security agencies to remain professional and supportive of INEC in bequeathing to our nation the legacy of a credible and peaceful 2019 general elections. This is the least the Federal Government, citizens and the international community are expecting of us, and I am confident that working together, we shall meet this expectation. You are all welcome to this meeting even as I look forward to a rewarding deliberation.