The Police and free elections

 

2023 is beginning to look like a watershed in our History. The US predicted a breakup of our country in 2015.

God prevailed and come 2023 a new

thing is in the offing.

The Nigerian Police, for whom #EndSARS happened are pledging to prevent Violence in the 2023 Elections.

The question I cannot for now answer is where they are getting their Mojo?

The Police have always been there for persons in power be they in Government or otherwise.

So where and how can they function independently?

While we are still pondering, it cannot be overemphasized that the Police have a prime role to play in free and fair elections.

I once conducted an election at a polling unit in a more volatile part of Lagos and guess what, but for God, the Police was ready to precipitate crisis with their poor counsel.

While the Electoral body had instructed us not to allow any voter join the queue after 3pm, the Policemen attached to our polling unit advised us to stop allowing voting after 3pm.

These are conflicting views and one is incendiary in nature. Trust the Police.

Had we stopped, the situation would have been uncontrollable. We ignored the Police and they left.

Knowing that we had to be professional to avoid censure and complaints, we carefully continued our work to completion.

At the end of the exercise everyone went away satisfied both the winners and losers.

The Police need to get down their high horse and know that Justice is  a better guarantee of peace than force.

With Force, peace is temporary but with Justice and Equity, you are covered.

In the 2023 Elections, the Police can serve well by being thorough and professional avoiding itchy fingers in respect of Firearms and Teargas, while siding not with the powerful but the just.