Violence: Conducting Election May Be Difficult In Ijesaland – Lawmaker

 

Kazeem Badmus

THE lawmaker representing Ijesa South Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, Hon. Babatunde Ayeni, has raised the alarm over the spate of political violence in Ijesaland, noting that conducting election in the part of the state might be difficult if the trend is not checked. 

Ayeni who called on the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, to wade in on the recent attack on members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ijesaland, said the political violence in the area was becoming worrisome and needed urgent security attention. 

The lawmaker who spoke with newsmen in Ilesa during the commissioning of a modern police station at ACAD area, Ilesa, recently, said the incessant political violence was snowballing into another security threat, adding that people of the area do no longer sleep with their two eyes closed. 

He said; “Political violence in Ijesaland is becoming worrisome. We cannot even sleep with our two eyes closed again.

“I am representing four local governments but my people in two of the local governments have witnessed series of attack. There have been series of harassment and intimidation and the election is coming in less than two months. 

“I want to use this occasion to call the attention of the Inspector General of Police to the nefarious activities of notorious cultist groups who have been launching attacks on innocent citizens across Ijesa land. 

“If left unchecked and allowed to go on like this especially by the Nigeria Police and other security agencies, conducting election in this area may be difficult.

“It will not only affect the 2023 general election, but snowball into another security threat to the businesses and well-being of the peace-loving Ijesa people. 

“I want to appeal to you to ensure that adequate security measures are put in place to ensure the security of lives and development of manpower for the purpose of restoring peace to our community”.