The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has charged politicians to complement the efforts of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by creating a peaceful atmosphere during the forthcoming general elections.
The agency also called on security agencies not to scare voters on the day of polls,
The agency’s Director in Ekiti State, Mr Dayo Famosaya made the statement in Ado Ekiti during a training organised by the agency in conjunction with Globastorm Company for members of the Community Support Brigade(CBS) in preparation for the general elections.
Famosaya said: “Community security is part of the survival of any democracy because you know the terrain and trouble spots where violence can erupt easily for security agencies to take prompt action”.
Speaking on the programme tagged: “Enabling Strategic Involvement In Safety Precautions, Notice of Occurrence and Discipline on the Field”, Globastorm’s Head of Operation, Mr. Muyiwa Babalola , described election as a critical national assignment that decides the fate of any nation.
Babalola said the training is for the CBS to participate in electoral process by reporting promptly, cases that could lead to the breach of public peace and unwarranted violence.
He affirmed the preparedness of CBS to maintain a peaceful atmosphere and report promptly all forms of violence before, during and after the elections.
“This training is for you to be able to provide corporate leadership and strategic approach for protecting the lives of our people, the public and the security of our environment and polling booths is very important and this can be accomplished by developing corporate policies.
“We expect that the CBS members will form part of the forces that will transform the electioneering process and rid it of violence and killing because members are part of the society, who can gather information to help the security agencies.
“There is need for us to involve communities in intelligence gathering during elections and that is exactly what we are trying to offer, so that measures will be taken against any unlawful actions that could rear its ugly head during this coming elections”, he said.
