The founder of YIAGA Africa, Samson Itodo, has urged Nigerian politicians to desist from directing and influencing the activities of the police.
Itodo said this while speaking ahead of the Edo State governorship election.
Itodo said the control of the police has killed the institution and rendered the force toothless.
“We did a survey and the police came last in trust. The people don’t trust the police to protect the integrity of the process.
“The problem is not the police but the political actors and parties that interfere with the affairs of the police.
“If the police is left alone to perform its job, the confidence of voters will rise.
“There is a call to the federal and state government to desist from the partisan use of security agencies. It kills the institution. If the institution cannot function on its own, it kills the institution,” Itodo said.
Itodo urged the people to vote for a credible candidate at the poll who will as he berated the present political actors in the country for not having the interest of the people.
“It appears that we have a reckless political class that does not care about the people. What the people need to do is not to take arm against the state; it is to provide eternal vigilance,” he said.
Itodo also condemned the increase in vote buying in Edo State election noting that the campaign was bereft of ideas.
He urged all men and women of good conscience who are concerned about 21 years of democracy and 60 years of independence to rise and condemn the commercialization of politics.
He said: “It is the weaponization of poverty and it is very unfortunate and distasteful that political leaders have the desperation and it is not exerted in the cause of seeking office.”