15th March, 2011
In a bid to address some of its security worries ahead of the forthcoming general elections in April, the Department of State Security Service on Monday at its National Headquarters in Abuja held an interactive session with chairmen of political parties in the country.
The agency during the parley reiterated its aim in the forth coming election which it said is to assist all stakeholders deepen democracy in the country and also strengthen the nation’s institutions but regretted that emerging trends in the polity are becoming sources of great security concern to the establishment.
It condemned the use of violence on political opponents which, according to the security agency, constitutes a great challenge to the election, especially in view of the recent dimension of throwing bombs during campaign rallies which has been introduced in the nation’s political activities.
While pledging to provide security to all parties before, during and after electioneering campaigns and the elections proper, the agency threatened to neutralise identified thugs and their sponsors who it is determined to keep away from the society.
At the end of the parley, a communiqué outlining the resolutions reached by the parties were made available to the press.
Among the resolutions are the creation of a level playing field for all political parties to thrive and that there should be no indiscriminate arrests of politicians and that all allegations of misconduct must be thoroughly investigated.
It was also resolved that security agencies should work with the inter party advisory council comprising all registered political parties to address all security issues more regularly; and that all political parties will work collectively towards ensuring that Nigeria remains one united and indivisible country despite its political, religious and cultural differences.
By Nnamdi Felix/ Abuja