Ahead of the Delta Central senatorial bye-election scheduled for Saturday (October 12) Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan has warned trouble makers to steer clear of the state and allow the election to be held in a peaceful atmosphere.

The governor handed down the warning in Warri yesterday when he met with political office holders and other stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the Governor’s Office Annex. He demanded the best conduct among the candidates and their supporters.

Dr. Uduaghan said there were disturbing security reports that certain persons want to cause a breach of the peace before, during and after the elections but cautioned that anyone found wanting irrespective of political leaning, would be decisively dealt with.

His words: “I am appealing to all political parties not to breach the peace by causing insecurity during the election on Saturday … Security reports show that certain persons are planning to disturb the peace and we must not give them the opportunity to do that. This administration has a responsibility to ensure a peaceful election and we will do all within our power to make sure that Saturday’s election is conducted in a peaceful atmosphere.”

“We will not shirk in our duty in this regard,” Uduaghan added at the meeting attended by the State Deputy Governor, Professor Amos Utuama, the PDP State Chairman, Chief Peter Nwaoboshi, PDP Chairmen in the various Local Governments in Delta Central, Political office holders and other PDP stakeholders from Delta Central Senatorial District.

Dr. Uduaghan explained that elections should not be by force as it has no resemblance to coup plotting. He condemned the mayhem unleashed by some persons recently when the PDP campaign train by the party’s candidate visited the Ovie of Agbon in Kokori, Ukori 1 but noted that security men where immediately drafted to the community.

He promised that those behind the attack will be fished out and punished no matter their status and assured that such lapses will not recur.

The governor enjoined the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to be deterred by the incident in Kokori or other threats of violence as the State Government would ensure a peaceful election on Saturday.

“I want to assure INEC that we will put in place adequate security measures to ensure a free and fair election as well as security of lives and property,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Governor Uduaghan has urged Nigeria’s security agencies to synergise among themselves so as to check emerging security challenges in the country.

Besides, he advised them to always acknowledge the contributions of sister security agencies in any successful operation especially in the areas of intelligence gathering and provision of logistics.

Dr. Uduaghan gave the charge Monday in Abuja while delivering a lecture on “Contemporary Development Challenges in Delta State” to participants of Executive Intelligence Management Course Six of the Institute of Security Studies Abuja. He informed the participants that cooperation among themselves would enable them deal successfully with the present security challenges facing the country.

The governor told the participants drawn from the nation’s armed forces, Para-military organisations, the National Assembly and Federal Government standards regulatory agencies that: “If we must deal with security challenges in the country, security agencies should not claim credit alone for their operations. In whatever happens, acknowledge the role your colleagues (fellow security agents) played. This will encourage cooperation and better performance in security operations.”

He expressed gratitude to the security agencies for working tirelessly to preserve the stability of the nation adding that he was impressed with the patriotism and professionalism with which they carry out their duties.

According to him, “That there is stability is not merely because it was wished into existence by anyone. No. We have stability in the society because from your daily efforts in getting your job done, the rest of us can go about our own businesses. I salute you for the fantastic job you are doing to preserve the stability of our great nation, Nigeria.”

Dr. Uduaghan who identified the development challenges of the nation as poverty, infrastructure, security, environmental degradation, high unemployment and social cohesion said that his administration has through the “Delta Beyond Oil” initiative tackled these challenges successfully in the state especially through the diversification of the economy and provision of infrastructure which has attracted investors to the state, noting that “others states in the country are keying fast into the Delta State model of developing non-oil sources of revenue.”

The Director of the Institute of Security Studies Abuja, Mr. Olalekan Odugbemi, noted that Governor Uduaghan had made concerted effort in building developmental Institutions.

He commended Governor Uduaghan for the effective conflict resolution and infrastructural development programme in Delta State and for assisting security agencies with logistics, communications gadgets and other operational facilities.

He disclosed that the Institute will benefit from the experiences the Governor has shared with the participants.

•Photo shows Governor Uduaghan (middle), Mr. Olalekan Odugbemi, Director, Institute of Security Studies (left) and Mrs. Florence Ikanone, Delta State Director of DSS . . . Monday in Abuja.