We’ll ‘Amputate’ Any Politician That Attempts To Disrupt Kogi And Bayelsa Governorship Polls – Arase

The Inspector General of Police, IGP Solomon Arase, has read the riot act to unscrupulous politicians in Kogi and Bayelsa States, warning them to conduct themselves within the ambits of the law or be “apmputated”.

Arase’s warning came ahead of the governorship elections in both states scheduled for November 21 (Kogi) and December 5 (Bayelsa).

The IGP spoke in Abuja during a meeting with Squadron Commanders in preparation for the elections and other issues affecting the police force.

Addressing the officers, Mr. Arase said: “Again, gentlemen, we are at the threshold of another election in Kogi and Bayelsa states scheduled to hold on November 21 and December 5, 2015 respectively. Our resolve and competence will once again be tested in this onerous assignment and we cannot afford to fail.

“As we drive the process, let me warn that any person that attempts to test the will of the force by engaging in any act that negates the electoral law or engages in any crime with intent to derail or compromise the integrity of the exercise will be isolated and firmly dealt with.

“Anybody and politicians who think that they can use the police to win election, I think they have a second thinking coming. They have to go to the field and contest, win the hearts and minds of the electorates.

“My own job is very easy, I am to provide a level playing field, emplace a robust security architecture that nobody will be able to test and I just mentioned it in my address, any politician who tests my will, will be severely dealt with, they will be amputated, I can assure you that”.

IGP Arase also warned his officers and other security agencies that will be deployed to complement the police to perform their operations professionally, vowing that any personnel found wanting in the discharge of their official callings, will be similarly dealt with.

According to him, “I have also told my officers that if they make themselves available for any politician to use them and assault the electoral process, then, severe disciplinary measures will be taken against you. The era of those things are already past, we are professional security managers and that is exactly what we are going to do”, Arase said.

On the commitment of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to ensure a credible election, the IGP said: “I can assure you that the President has not given us any order to compromise the result of the elections that will be conducted in the two states, instead, he has insisted that we must go and ensure that credible elections are conducted wherever it is going to be conducted and he repeatedly said it that he has been a victim of electoral manipulation and he cannot see him- self now in this position supporting the same thing that has happened to him as a President”.