Politicians introducing dangerous dimension to elections – SSS

Director General of the State Security Service, Mr. Ekpeyong Ita, on Tuesday said politicians were introducing dangerous dimension to electioneering campaign as the 2011 general elections drew nearer. Ita spoke in Abuja during the commencement of a two-day national workshop on ‘Election Security Management’ organised by the Nigeria Police Force. He said some politicians were already adopting unconventional tactics to get into power. He listed those dangerous dimensions, which he said were threats to the conduct of the elections to include corruption, terrorism and proliferation of arms as some of the major threats to the April polls. He said, “We also have the threat of corruption. There is no denying the fact that corruption is the most critical threat to 2011 elections. “There is also the threat of terrorism especially as fueled by Alqaeda and Boko Haram has been sources of security worry. “The most disturbing aspect of this threat is the whipping up of religious and political sentiments around the threats thereby stunting and frustrating the effectiveness of efforts to create awareness over the threats.” It added, Presently, there is sadly the misuse of ethnic, sectional and religious sentiments to achieve political goals. This manipulation of emotions is not and can never be in the interest of the nation. “We also have the problem of proliferation of arms. While the security agencies have been doing their best within their means to contain the threats in 2011 elections, they cannot do it alone. Therefore efforts must be geared to deliver free, fair and credible elections. He, however, said that the security agencies were duty bound to provide a level- playing field for all political parties during the elections. He also said there was the culture of ‘do-or-die’ politics in the country because government remained the largest employer of labour and source of income. He said, “There is no doubt that politics in Nigeria is becoming very bitter by the day particularly as some desperate politicians are getting increasingly intolerant of their opponents. This situation has led to increasing unguarded, inflammatory and unpatriotic statements which are capable of undermining the stability of the country. By Olusola Fabiyi, Abuja Courtesy of:Punch