OSUN 2014: Don’t panic over soldiers —Osun govt

The Osun State government, on Wednesday, advised residents not to be scared of large numbers of security personnel deployed to the state for the August 9 governorship election. Mr Bola Ilori, the Special Adviser on Environment and Sanitation to Governor Rauf Aregbesola, gave the advice while addressing journalists in Osogbo. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reported that the All Progressives Congress (APC), had opposed the deployment of soldiers for the election. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) supported the deployment of security men, including soldiers, to ensure violence free polls. Ilori said Governor Aregbesola, was not contesting the deployment of security men to the state since they were to protect lives and property. “The opposition to the use of the military is not only in the interest of the political class, but the future of the country’s democracy. “The military is already de-politicised, why are we bringing the institution into political affairs again? “What we are now concerned with is that the security officials on election duty should not be used by a particular political party to the detriment of others. “Security men should not arrest people indiscriminately”, he emphasised.