2019 election: Police read riot act to politicians in Ondo

AHEAD of the 2019 general election, the Ondo state Police command, on Monday, called on the politicians in the State to play the game by the rules, just as it warned politicians to shun all forms of violence.

The State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Mr Femi Joseph, who gave this warning while speaking with journalists in Akure, the Ondo State capital, urged politicians to educate their followers across the state to shun politics of hooliganism and thuggery.

Joseph called on political parties should avail the command with their campaigns timetable so as to avoid a clash of rallies by two or more political parties saying, the command was battle ready to ensure peace before, during and after the election.

He said the Command would not hesitate to arrest anyone who tries to run foul of the law, while he advised parents to warn their wards not to be tools in the hands of politicians to disrupt existing peace in the State.

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He said: “We are very aware that campaign has started, most especially for the Presidential and National Assembly elections. We at the command will partner with them as usual and we encourage them to cooperate with us in all their activities.

“They should not keep us in the dark, they should let us know whenever they are having campaigns and the venues. We will request them to bring their timetable for the campaign so that the campaign of two different political parties do not clash.

“We will be able to streamline it, to ensure that security is provided where needed so that everything will go on without any modicum of harassment.

“We just want to advise the politicians to play the game according to the rule. They should warn their followers not to engage in do or die politics or politics of hooliganism and thuggery as we will not hesitate to wield the big stick where necessary.

“We also want to advise parents to warn their wards not to allow them to be used as willing tools to foment trouble as the campaign kicks off.”