Gen Goar gives panacea for peaceful 2019 elections in Plateau

Coordinator of Plateau State Security outfit, Operation Rainbow, Major-General Stephen Goar (rtd) has rolled conditions that will lead to peaceful and credible elections next year.

General  Goar who spelt out the conditions in his remarks at a Plateau Gubernatorial Pre-Election Debate Dinner organized by Plateau Coalition Business Association (PLACOPBA) said if that if the conditions are adhered to, the state will record the most peaceful election in the country

He said, “First, security agencies must remain apolitical and maintain their neutrality at the polls. The personnel should definitely not to have been seen as taking sides about who to vote, where and how to vote, adding that everybody should be allowed to cast his vote according to his conscience so that the people get their choice.

“Politicians should avoid imposition of candidate; the voters should be allowed to decide their leaders. Experience shows that violent do occurs when politicians want to manipulate the process in favor of one particular candidate. The voters should be allowed to decide the fate of all contestants.

He pointed out that the last local government election in the state was an eye opener, saying that there is a lot that needs to be done by way of level platform security wise.

Goar wondered why security should not be for all but for few selected persons because he was personally approached by some contenders to provide them with security cover in the recent council election in the state.

He assured that nobody will be victimized from his own end and nobody should expect any special security cover from the outfit, Operation Rainbow, because they are for everybody, all the political parties.

On his part, Commandant of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) station in Jos, Air Commodore Kabiru Aliyu, reminded the audience to know that the security agencies are apolitical without taking sides but to ensure that peace reigns especially when it comes to election on the Plateau.

Aliyu assure that peace will reign in the state at the election and this will be done in a rancor-free atmosphere. He said that it is common knowledge that no development can take place without peace and no business can thrive in an atmosphere of chaos.

“We all know that there is no gain in a situation that is chaotic. We need every peace for us to survive as a people, for our business to thrive, for our economy to grow and for us to have a purposeful life,” he said.