By Debo Popoola
President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed his unreserved apologies to Nigerians, admitting that he has failed to ensure security of lives and properties during the recent elections that held in Kogi, Bayelsa and Rivers states. The president said this at the National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting of the ruling party, APC.
The run-off elections that held in Kogi, Bayelsa and Rivers were all shrouded with controversy and violence. The president described the Rivers election as the most violent as many innocent lives were lost.
The President said: “I am afraid I did not succeed in the election in Kogi, Bayelsa and Rivers. I think that more Nigerians are killed or killed themselves in Rivers than in any particular state. At this stage of our political development, to remain brutal is shameful and as a government, I promise we will do something by the next general election.”
In same vain, the national chairman of the APC party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, condemned the violence that ripped the Rivers election, describing it as unfortunate and disgraceful.
He said: “It is a disgrace. That is the only thing one can say. Some of the things that happened and some of the killings that happened would never have been able to happen in this country. But the assurance we can give you and the assurance Mr President has given us is that these issues will be vigorously addressed. People must not get away with that level of dastardly act and killings of the most bestial act and in no circumstance must this be allowed to spread to the rest of the country because unless you address it, you are in fact inviting other states to set up their own military wings.”
