President Muhammadu Buhari has directed security agencies to ensure violence-free elections in Ondo and Rivers states.
Speaking at a state dinner in Benin, the Edo state capital, on Monday, President Buhari said the forthcoming gubernatorial elections in Ondo and National and State Assembly rerun elections in Rivers will serve as a litmus test for the general elections in 2019.
Ondo state gubernatorial election holds November 26 while the Rivers, National Assembly (Senate and House of Representatives) and State House of Assembly elections is scheduled to hold Saturday, December 10, 2016.
According to a statement by Presidential media aide Garba Shehu, the President said ‘‘What happened in (the last elections) Kogi, Bayelsa
and Rivers State disturbs me a lot.
‘‘I think we should go beyond these actions. Why do we kill each other? Putting tyres on people and setting them ablaze.
‘‘I have told the law enforcement agencies, if we can’t conduct an election in one state then we should forget about 2019.’’ Acknowledging the role played by outgoing Governor Adams Oshiomhole in ensuring the success of the APC in the last gubernatorial elections in the state, President Buhari challenged the Governor-elect, Godwin Obaseki, to continue in Oshiomhole’s footsteps of providing purposeful leadership in terms of quality infrastructure, education and social
services.
‘‘The publicity your predecessor has given his performance is going to stretch you to the limit.
“Considering what he has down, you have to continue in his footsteps. We wish you the best of luck and will do our best to support you,’’ the President said.
On the current economic challenges in the country, the President assured Nigerians that his administration was working hard on diversification of the economy to limit the country’s over-dependence on oil over the years.
“This country has incredible mineral resources. All we need is to believe in ourselves so that we can have and leave a better Nigeria for our children and randchildren,’’ the President said.
