BY DAMILOLA ORIGBEMISUYI, ADEBAYO WAHEED, Osun
Despite the heavy security presence across Osun State ahead of today’s election, the state remained calm yesterday, even as the electorate made final preparations for the poll.
Security operatives comprising the military, police, Civil Defence and other paramilitary agencies had been deployed to the 30 local government areas across the state.
Specifically, the Nigerian Police Force on Thursday said as many as 30 commissioners of police would be on duty during the election. The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps disclosed that it would deploy over 10,000 personnel for the election.
Our correspondent, who visited the state police command headquarters and the Oke Fia Police Post, reports that police personnel were being deployed to their primary assignments yesterday.
A visit to the INEC headquarters in Osogbo also saw the deployment of police personnel to their assigned posts. According to the arrangement, each polling unit in the state would have three police personnel assigned to it.
Also, military personnel were seen patrolling major streets of the state capital, Osogbo, just as residents went about their normal business activities unhindered.
LEADERSHIP Weekend also observed increased movement of police vehicles in parts of Osun East yesterday, with security operatives intensifying patrols.
The general situation in the senatorial district was calm, while residents made final preparations for the poll.
LEADERSHIP Weekend also reports a calm atmosphere in Osun West amid a heavy security presence.
Meanwhile, voters in Osun East Senatorial District expressed readiness to participate in Saturday’s election, saying they were prepared to come out and cast their ballots for their preferred candidates.
A businessman in Ife Central Local Government Area of the state, Adebayo Michael, said he had made up his mind on the candidate he would support and would come out to vote.
“I will come out tomorrow to vote. I have made up my mind, and I want to exercise my right as a citizen,” he said.
Similarly, a taxi driver who identified himself as Ogunniyi Tunde said he was ready to participate in the election and urged eligible voters to come out and vote peacefully.
“I am ready for the election, and I will come out to vote. Everybody should vote for the candidate of his or her choice and return home peacefully,” he said.
However, another eligible voter, who identified himself only as Seun, said he would first assess the situation before deciding whether to come out, stressing that his priority was his safety.
“I want to vote, but I will first observe what is happening on the ground tomorrow. If the situation is calm and safe, I will come out to vote; if it is not safe, I will stay indoors. I cannot kill myself for any politician,” he said.
In Ede, the governor’s hometown, some residents who spoke with LEADERSHIP Weekend said they would support their son.
A resident of the area, Madam Folake Ajayi, told LEADERSHIP Weekend that voters would come en masse for the polls.
Another resident, Mr Ajayi Olawale, said it was better for the people to allow the governor to complete his second term because he had brought development to the senatorial district.
