Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba Alkali, has raised alarm over alleged activities of some political actors.
He also warned elements planning to deploy extra-judicial and undemocratic means to create tension.
The IGP disclosed this on Monday while briefing crime correspondents at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.
The alarm was contained in the text of his speech titled “May 29, 2023 Presidential Inauguration Is Sacrosanct.
He said: “Following the successful conclusion of the 2023 general elections, it has been observed that some major political actors that the outcome did not favour have been issuing public threats that are directed at instigating actions to frustrate the Presidential inauguration ceremony on 29th May 2023.
“The Nigeria Police and the national intelligence community have been closely monitoring the activities of these political elite as well as other elements who have formed themselves into unpatriotic brands whose only fantasy, in recent times, is to subvert our national security interests.
“In so doing, they seem to be bent on deploying extra-judicial and undemocratic means to truncate our democratic heritage in the advancement of their narrow personal political considerations.
“The beauty of democracy lies not just in the freedom of the citizens to freely exercise their franchise within the electoral cycle. It is also hinged on the right of aggrieved political actors to submit grievances on the electoral outcome to the judicial process for consideration.
“Ladies and gentlemen, the imperative of peace in our national life cannot be over-emphasized. Sustenance of peace and security is even more expedient at this stage in our national democratic transition.
“Consequently, while the Nigeria Police, in synergy with other security agencies and the intelligence community, continues to closely monitor the activities of these political elements, it has become expedient to make some clear statements.
“Secondly, any such persons, regardless of their political affiliations who continuously engage in acts that are inimical to our nation’s democratic and security interests should not be in doubt on the firm determination of the Nigeria Police under my watch to closely collaborate with the law enforcement family and the intelligence community to defend our democracy, keep the internal security order stable and optimally deploy our common unique assets towards guaranteeing the successful conduct of the Presidential inauguration ceremony,” Alkali added
Baba further stated: “The Nigeria Police, hereby, sternly warns all political actors with subversive agenda and their collaborators, particularly, their foot soldiers who they are exposing to political radicalisation and extremism to, henceforth, jettison their on-going premeditated attempts to create tension within the national space with intention of derailing the May 29, 2023 Presidential Inauguration Ceremony.”
The police boss urged Nigerians to be mindful of the antics of political elements who may want to manipulate their political passion to advance parochial, undemocratic, and unconstitutional objectives.
“I wish to, particularly, appeal to media practitioners to also be weary of the intents of these political gladiators and resist the urge to deploy their credible media outlets to advance their destabilisation plots,” he added.
