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Ehindero: Chris Uba Was a Security Risk

Inspector General of Police, Mr. Sunday Ehindero, said yesterday that his men picked up Chief Chris Uba of Anambra State last weekend because he was a security risk to the conduct of a free and fair election in the state.

• FG, UN move to check post-election crisis

Inspector General of Police, Mr. Sunday Ehindero, said yesterday that his men picked up Chief Chris Uba of Anambra State last weekend because he was a security risk to the conduct of a free and fair election in the state.

The Federal Government and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have also unveiled strategies aimed at managing post-election crisis in the country. This is being driven in the country by the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) in conjunction with the UN agency.
Briefing newsmen on the election in Abuja, Ehindero said, apart from the arrest of Uba, the police also picked up over 300 persons for various electoral malpractices across the states and the Federal Capital Territory last week.
In the words of the Inspector General of Police, "Chris Uba was a security risk and I won't say more than that. But we intend to release him anytime from now, probably today."
Uba, younger brother of the Anambra State Governor-elect, Mr. Andy Uba, was released last night.
According to Ehindero, about 100 cases bordering on electoral malpractices were recorded. "Over 300 persons were arrested and we are still collating. 20 people lost their lives, including some policemen while 30 others were wounded. We recovered over 25 arms and ammunition."
While noting that his officers and men had so far resisted using force in quelling disturbances, he however cautioned that the Police would no longer watch while men and officers of the force are being wasted".
Reacting to allegations by the INEC that security agencies should be blamed for the mayhem witnessed in some states, he said, "I have discussed with Maurice Iwu on the incidents that happened in Enugu. We will rather not allow lives to be wasted than to take action that would results into death. It is not a weakness on the part of the police; we are just trying to be civil.
"But henceforth, we will not allow miscreants and thugs to unleash terror. A DSP was killed in Kogi State because he rescued INEC officials, we will not shoot but we won't allow our officers to be wasted.
"I have directed my men on any arsonist that is caught should be arrested or even be shot if necessary. The law is very clear on this, if somebody is committing an offence punishable seven years and above and cannot be prevented or stopped, the law says such people could be shot.
"That is what the law says and we won't hesitate to use it."
On reported cases of demonstrations in Okenne, Kogi State, Nasarawa State and some parts of Edo State, the Inspector General of Police said mobile policemen have been drafted to bring the situation under control.
"In Nasarawa Eggon, the supporters of those who lost the election blocked the road and we sent men there. Same for Okenne, we have sent two units of mobile policemen to dislodge the protesters.
"These are conducts we cannot tolerate. Of course in Edo, there are some demonstrations in Auchi but the situation has been arrested."
He stressed that the former governor of Osun State, Chief Bisi Akande, has no immunity under the law, "and because he has been caught with illegal possession of firearms, he would be prosecuted. Nobody is above the law."
Meanwhile, the police authority yesterday released Uba, who was arrested and taken to Abuja last week Friday.
Uba, who confirmed his release in a chat with newsmen, said that he was surprised that no charge was brought against him by the Inspector-General of Police who ordered his arrest and detention.
He also said that nobody told him why he was invited to Abuja on the eve of the last Saturday election.
According to him, "I am still a member of PDP and I will never work against the party. I only disagreed with the manner in which they snatched the structure of the party in Anambra State which I nurtured to prominence".
On his experience while in detention, Uba said, "when we arrived the IG's office at Abuja last Friday afternoon, I was asked to remain there and wait for the police chief whom they said ordered my invitation.
"The IG later met with me and said that he personally invited me to his office and said that I was not under arrest. When I asked why he invited me, he could not give any reason. I was only told to remain there."
Meanwhile, the Federal Government and the United Nations Development Prog-ramme (UNDP) have also unveiled strategies aimed at managing post-election crisis in the country. This is being driven in the country by the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) in conjunction with the UN agency.
Director-General of IPCR, Dr. Joseph Golwa, while unfolding the agenda in Abuja, said the plan is to capture and retain the attention of the youths who are the most vulnerable segment of the society in terms of the capacity to unleash violence.
"The strategy is to fully engage the youths in positive activities during and after the elections that will prevent their exploitation by politicians as well as encourage positive thinking and attitude during and after the elections", he said.
He said the UNDP and IPCR have organized stakeholder dialogue sessions, capacity building for the election tribunal judges and peace education and reward programmes for positive attitudes by youths in violence prone areas of the country.
Under the trouble shooting programme, the agencies are to execute projects like the 'Youth for Peaceful Elections (YPE) incentives designed to build the capacity of young people between the ages of 18 - 30 in the area of creative thinking and the 'Play for Peace (PFP) incentive' for youths in the rural areas.
According to the D-G, the Play for Peace programme targets youths at the grassroots level that will participate in a soccer competition across the country.
The first soccer competition is expected to kick-off on May 5 for the North Central zone.
The YPE programme encourages unemployed youths to submit their literary or art works on topics depicting violence and the role of youths in mainstreaming peace in the society.
Awards ranging from three months internship at the UNDP, laptops and ipod will be given to winners.
Also as part of the grand finale of the project, there will be an art exhibition of the selected art works in August while those not selected will be sold at the exhibition and proceeds given to artists.
The representative of UNDP in Nigeria, Hon. Jackie Weatherspoon said the report of a nation-wide study on causes of electoral violence points to ethnicity, endorsement of a particular candidate by leaders over other contestants and outright imposition of candidates as likely conflict factors.
Others are shortcomings on the part of the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) in failing to discharge its functions very well, misuse of law enforcement agents at the polling stations and falsification of election result.