PRESS RELEASE

 FG ASSURES OF PEACEFUL AREA COUNCILS’ ELECTION IN FCT-MIN
…SECURITY AGENTS TO DEAL WITH TROUBLEMAKERS
The Federal Government has put all mechanism in place to ensure a
peaceful conduct of the April 9th Area Councils’ election in the
Federal Capital Territory.
FCT Minister, Malam Muahammad Musa Bello gave this assurance Thursday
during a special stakeholders’ meeting on the forthcoming FCT Area
Councils’ election held at Sheraton Hotel & Towers, Abuja.
The Minister emphasized that the government would do everything within
its powers to ensure that peace continues to reign in the Territory as
the residents go to the polls to elect those to deliver dividends of
democracy to the people.
Malam Bello remarked that the security agencies have been directed to
deal decisively with all troublemakers who might want to disrupt the
process.
According to him, “let me reiterate our resolve to ensure a peaceful
conduct of the exercise as all security agencies have been directed to
deal decisively with al troublemakers who might want to disrupt the
process”.
The Minister further assured that the security agencies have been
fully mobilized to ensure peaceful conduct and therefore enjoined
residents to obey the law and move about without fear of intimidation.
Malam Bello said that in every contest, there must be a winner and a
loser and thus, admonished the residents particularly the aspirants to
be good sportsmen by being good winners and good losers.
He reminded the residents that election is not a do or die affair but
rather an opportunity to elect leaders of their choice who will
deliver dividends of democracy.

The Minister also delivered a message from President Muhammadu Buhari
who is the Governor General of the FCT, urging all FCT residents to
conduct themselves in a peaceful manner before, during and after the
election.

In his welcome address, the FCT Permanent Secretary, Dr. Babatope
Ajakaiye said that the forum was designed to foster peace and
understanding to ensure that the elections are held without rancour or
violence.

Dr. Ajakaiye reiterated that the change mantra of the present
Administration demands of Nigerians a clean break from the culture of
violence, which is a product of political desperation and inordinate
ambitions.

The Permanent Secretary noted that this desperation has always
characterised and undermined the success of elections in some parts of
the country.

His words: “You have all been invited here today to rub minds together
in order to ensure that the elections are conducted successfully in an
atmosphere of peace and order”.

“We owe posterity an obligation to entrench and bequeath peace and
fair play as permanent features of electioneering processes in this
Territory, and indeed in our country,” Dr. Ajakaiye stressed.

Also speaking at the meeting, the Police Commissioner in charge of
Election Security, Mr. Folunsho Adebanjo who spoke on behalf of the
security agencies, warned all political gladiators in the Federal
Capital Territory to advise their supporters to shun violence as the
security agents will not condone any act of political violence.

Some of the people that also spoke at the occasion include the
Minister of Defence, Brigadier-General Mansur Dan-Ali, Senator
representing the FCT, Senator Philip Tanimu Aduda as well as Senator
Isa Hamman Missau, Senate Committee Chairman on Navy.

Others were the Chairman of the FCT Council of Chiefs and Ona of
Abaji, FCT CAN Chairman, Deputy Imam of the Abuja National Mosque,
Chairman of FCT Chapter of the NCWS, Chairman, House of
Representatives Committee on FCT Area Councils & Ancillary Matters.

Muhammad Hazat Sule, FCAI
Deputy Director / Chief Press Secretary,
Thursday, April 7, 2016.