2023: 'I Will Provide A Level Playing Field For All Political Tendencies'- Kwara New CP
By Adedayo Said
As campaign for the 2023 General Elections kick-started on Wednesday, the newly deployed Commissioner of Police to Kwara State, CP Paul Odama has assured to be fair to all political parties in the state.
The Police boss disclosed this on Thursday while meeting with journalists at the command headquarters in Ilorin, Kwara state capital.
“I want to let you know that I am in Kwara State to work to sustain and even better the already established peace and security already in existence in the state.
“To fight crimes and criminality, enforce all laws within the provisions of the Nigerian constitution and rule of law, to democratically police the state and respect the fundamental rights of the citizens and residents alike, in line with global best policing practice.
“My policing mandate includes the provision of a level playing field for all political tendencies in Kwara state irrespective of party affiliation, region or tribe, as you may all know, the police is apolitical, and the people of the state as a whole are our constituency, hence we promise to discharge our duties with clear conscience and fear of God,” he said.
The police boss, also disclosed that he would be meeting with the representatives of all political parties in the state on Friday, said all stakeholders would be compelled to sign a peace accord as part of ways to have free and fair campaign elections.
“The command is not unaware that, officially, political party campaigns have started, as such, the command in conjunction with other sister Services have concluded plans to emplace adequate security for all political parties to make their campaigns free of any intimidation across the length and breadth of the State.
“By the same token, I want to use this medium to advise would be law breakers and criminal elements in the State to change their ways and be law abiding, or pack their bags and baggages and relocate to any state they feel is safe to carry on with their lawless activities, we are prepared to work with both state and non-state security actors to police Kwara state with all available human and material resources to ensure peace reigns supreme in the state.
“The Command is also ready to advance the community policing mantra of the Inspector- General of Police, Alhaji Usman Alkali Baba for effective community participation in the arduous task of emplacement of a crime free society.
“For the umpteenth time, I want to reiterate that, policemen have no right to randomly stop any citizen and demand his telephone handsets for search, except perhaps, the phone is a proceed of crime or for purposes of investigation and that should be in the police station, my policemen are well aware of this fact, any policeman caught in this illegal act would be dealt with accordingly.
“Finally, I want to solicit the cooperation of all and sundry to always make use of our emergency telephone lines already in the public space to report incidences that require police actions within their areas as fast as possible, this would give the Command an opportunity to provide robust service delivery to the people” he said
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