The Oyo state commissioner of Police CP Kola Shodipo at the maiden sensitisation workshop for political parties and their heads on the forth coming general election in Oyo state at the Oyo state police headquarter Eleyele, today 2nd of October 2014.
The CP in his address, he said, there is need to talk about how the polls must be free, fair, credible and violence free, as this is the only way Oyo state can shed the toga of a state notorious for election bringadage, unending electoral litigation and do or die politics. There is no doubt that the political environment in the state is presently passionate and emotional, however, only one candidate can be elected into different electoral offices at a point in time, there is need to eschew the policy of “I and me” and “if I do not win, then nobody else should” CP said.
“This workshop is another opportunity for all stakeholders to discuss what could make or mar the elections and collectively agree on modalities of prevention and abide strictly by the agreement reached”, CP Shodipo said.
CP Shodipo advised all aspirants to vie for their choice posts in the absence of thuggery and violence, let those who lose join the winners, who must be magnanimous in victory. Accordingly, he urged participants to use this platform to renew their respective commitments to maintain culture of tolerance, respect for rule of law, eschew violence, admonish their supporters to conduct themselves peacefully, and to remember that politics is not war, but an avenue for people to peacefully express their choices in globally recognised democratic channels as enshrined in our laws.
The CP implore the political parties that in the process of strengthening and sustaining our democracy, therefore we must maintain constitutionality with responsibility and expedience when there are situations that challenge or undermine the tenets of what we have all strive so hard to attain
