Nigerian Army chief vows crackdown on election unrest
The head of Nigeria’s army on Wednesday vowed a violent crackdown on election-related unrest, as security tightened before this weekend’s presidential and parliamentary vote.
Lieutenant Colonel Kenneth Minimah said the armed forces, police and other organisations had made “adequate arrangements” for security at this Saturday’s poll.
Bloody election-related violence has been a major concern at previous votes in Nigeria, especially between supporters of rival political parties.
In 2011, around 1,000 people were killed in clashes after Goodluck Jonathan’s victory over Muhammadu Buhari for the presidency.
Minimah said heightened security would be in place both for the presidential and parliamentary vote on Saturday as well as on April 11, when gubernatorial and state assembly elections are held.
“I do not envisage any issue because this is just an election and it will come and go,” he told a news conference at the country’s electoral commission.
“Though we know there are also elements within the political class that would not want a normal election process to come and be put behind us.
“I will appeal to politicians and their followers and supporters to keep the peace, maintain the peace and ensure a violence-free elections… and whoever wants to invoke or provoke violence will meet organised violence waiting for him.”
Related
Get the latest news delivered straight to your inbox every day of the week. Stay informed with the Guardian’s leading coverage of Nigerian and world news, business, technology and sports.
13 Comments
THEN TELL GOODLUCK JONATHAN THAT A GENERAL IN THE NIGERIAN ARMY, IS FAR MORE QUALIFIED THAN A WEST AFRICA SCHOOL CERTIFICATE HOLDER. TELL GOODLUCK JONATHAN THAT HE IS BRINGING, THE VERY GOOD NANE OF OUR HIGHLY RESPECTED MILITARY INTO RIDICULE AND ODIUM. TELL GOODLUCK JONATHAN THAT HE IS INSULTING OUR BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN, WHO PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE TO PROTECT US AND MAKE SU VERY SAFE. TELL GOODLUCK JONATHAN THAT HE IS RUBBISHING OUR GREAT MILITARY INSTITUTION , WHOSE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN HE GOODLUCK JONATHAN IS PUTTING IN HARMS WAY ON A DAILY BASIS. TELL GOODLUCK JONATHAN THAT ENOUGH IS ENOUGH AND THIS MUST STOP NOW. . VOTE VERY MASSIVELY FOR BUHARI AS THE PRESIDENT OF NIGERIA COME END OF MAY 2015. VOTE FOR BUHARI AND END THE MASSIVE LOOTING OF GOODLUCK JONATHAN AND HIS GOOD FOR NOTHING AND GOD FORSAKEN ADMINISTRATION. VOTE BUHARI AND END VERY RECKLESS IMPUNITY, GROSS DISREGARD OF RULE OF THE RULE OF LAW, BEING IN OFFICE AND NOT IN POWER, BEING A VENTRILOQUIST DUMMY AND A PUDDLE, ETC ALL ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PLACEBO AND PRETEND ADMINISTRATION OF GOODLUCK JONATHAN. VOTE BUHARI AND RESTORE OUR PRIDE AND GLORY
fuck you yeye APC baboons and dogs
Agbolu, yes, your time has come to see your Buhari and APC in tears. Sorry oh. All your noise making and lies have come to book. 28th of March is at hand, it’s time for your man who refuses to appear at the televised debate to answer our queries.
Bye bye to Buhari and his APC.
What is your point sir?
Exactly my question!
American Lingo profusely borrowed!
you missed road ,turn back
Weep not. Take some rest and live with another 4 years of Jonathan.
”Lieutenant Colonel Kenneth Minimah”
Is this AN EDITORIAL MISTAKE?
I wish you success. But don’t forget that Boko Haram is more dangerous.
What the Army, Air Force and Navy need to do at this time is to secure borders, not to allow LOOTERS to escape like UMARU DIKKO in 1983. Many of these CORRUPT LEADERS have been sending their children and stolen funds abroad to avoid arrest and to also escape confistication of their ill-gotten wealth.
There should be no cause for alarm, everybody should desist from any form of fracas, It should not be individual targets but all corrupt officials should be ready to face the music. My concern is the ability to do and keep the covenants made with the whole Nigerians, for I believe in the ability of General Buhari as God had previously helped him along with Idiagbon to do the unthinkable good job by eradicating corruption and indiscipline. Now that there is no more Idiagbon, I
am hoping that Osinbajo will propel the action that will surpass Idiagbon’s
achievements. It is possible to eradicate corruption by recovering the stolen funds in cash and assets of those culprits and utilize it in fixing power, to tackle insurgency, revive agriculture, Infrastructure including prison reform, for good education-by making sure that everybody in power keep their children in Nigeria schools, revamp health system by
ensuring that nobody including you go abroad for treatment. To also ensure that
we refine our petroleum in Nigeria and stop importation thereby reducing fuel pump per liter to N50 for petrol N40 for diesel and N30 for kerosene.
To deal with corruption in such a way that, there will be no more kickbacks and over-invoicing in all the contracts to be awarded, to also ensure that fake or substandard products are eliminated from our markets and to
send strong signals to countries that are known for cheap and substandard
products to desist from allowing such products to be exported to Nigeria.
To curb extortions from Police, FRSC, Army and any other law
enforcement agencies (To establish special Patrolling Task Force) to arrest any
offender.
To foster independent/special court for EFCC & ICPC in
order to accelerate trials of corrupt officials and to instill fear that will
scare people away from any forms of corrupt practices.
There is urgent need to change currency because a lot of
Government officials must have stuffed the embezzled monies underground, in the
tank, in the ceiling e.t.c.
All Government landed properties and Treasures taken over or
cheaply awarded to cronies should be recovered in all the three ties of
Governments.
This will just mark the beginning of a new era of freedom to
press, religion and association in a tranquility environment that is free from
war.
The man had spoken and it shall be so, the source of the
funds is so simple, it is just to recover all the funds stolen by corrupt men
and women at the helm of affairs since 1980, by seizing their assets and funds
tashed away in the foreign accounts, in ZURISH, UK, DUBAI,USA, SOUTH AFRICA,
even the mansions buit with stolen money in LEKKI, VGC, IKOYI,ABUJA, PH,
REFINERIES in African countries, apart from private jets, shares acquired in
multinational companies e,t,c
AGBOBU, MAY WE KNOW YOUR POINT?, OR YOU ARE TRYING TO TELL US YOUR LEVEL OF FRUSTRATION BEEN A SUPPORTER OF APC.
We will review and take appropriate action.