From Bode Durojaiye, Oyo.
The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi, has observed that democracy and security are intricately related just as successful and credible elections are a powerful tool for conflict prevention, particularly in fragile societies.
Oba Adeyemi made the observation when the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Ikemefuna Remijius Okoye, paid him a courtesy visit in his palace.
Alaafin said this is very much evident in much of Africa today and most notably Nigeria. He added that the post-Cold War so-called Third Wave (Huntington 1991) of transition to democracy in Africa constitutes a central point for locating the majority of violent internal conflicts that engulfed
the region from the turn of the 1990s and whose lingering impacts have remained evident in endemic conditions of political fragility, instability and insecurity.
“Given the context of weak state institutions, the intense
competition for power, unleashed by the process of political
liberalisation in the 1990s and driven by the deferred promise of popular participation, offers an important insight into the linkage between democratic transition and insecurity in Africa”.
The paramount ruler noted that the challenges that face the police in the discharge of their election duties are common across the states,which include inadequate manpower, poor logistics, political control, low welfare and motivation of the rank and file.
“The weak manpower of the police for election duties is a decisive factor of success or failure. More often than not, police personnel at the polling stations were too few to control the crowd or prevent massive violence that usually goes along with fraud. Logistics for transport and communication are also a huge challenge in all the
states. In many cases, the police had to rely on vehicles provided by INEC to go to their duty posts.’’
“In some cases, such vehicles were provided by some ‘generous big man’ but such assistance contributes to the moral compromise of the police on duty and their susceptibility to manipulation. The police are also used to making distress calls through their personal cell
phones at their own costs, without getting reimbursement. Feeding on duty is so poor, particularly for junior officers and men. Yet, despite these challenges police still deserve a pat on their back”.
Such treatment, Oba Adeyemi asserted, created low motivation in the men and consequent dereliction of duty or even support for the generous politician.
Alaafin, who is also the Chairman, Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs, commended officers and men of both the State and Oyo Area Police Commands for their diligence to duties, as well assured the zonal command of his unalloyed support and co-operation.
The AIG, who commended the Alaafin for his usual support and contributions towards the progress of the force, said he was in Oyo on familiarisation visit to the area command.
At the Area command headquarters, Durbar, the Commander-in-charge, Wale Oloko, attributed dearth of manpower ,
transport, logistics, riot equipment, bullet proof jackets and hand/leg protectors as some of the constraints facing the command.
The command, he said with 11 divisions, have a total personnel of 558.
Responding, the AIG who stressed the need for co-operation among other security establishments for proper protection of lives and properties, support the idea of community policing.
The colourful event was attended by political party leaders, security personnel and business associations.
