The former deputy Governor of Kogi state, Chief Clarence Olafemi has said that the proliferation of fire arms after the general election was responsible for the high rate of kidnapping and armed robbery in Kogi state.
Speaking with newsmen in Lokoja Sunday over the current security situation in the state, the Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) noted that kidnapping and armed robbery cases increased immediately after the presidential and national assembly election in the state.
He said: “Those criminals were armed by some group of people, politicians and individuals to rig the election in their favour and after the election those politicians cannot retrieve the arms and ammunitions and the resultant effect is the current spate of armed robbery and kidnapping across the state
“Election in a democratic setting must be free, fair and credible. Elections are no longer base on popular votes, politicians have bastardized the system.
“Election with intimidation as a result of use of arms against the people, all these are very disastrous to our democratic growths,”
The former deputy Governor therefore called on the security agents in the state to wade in and make sure that those in possession of illegal arms in the state were arrested and prosecuted.
While calling on all stakeholders in the state to work together and bring peace back to the state, Chief Olafemi stressed that if the situation is not arrested, the November 2 governorship election will be bloody in Kogi state.
