The Bayelsa Professional Forum (BPF) has expressed disappointment in Governor Duoye Diri’s recent comments regarding the role of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) in elections.
In a statement issued on Wednesday in Yenagoa, the Secretary of BPF, Philip Erepa, criticized the governor for suggesting during a live youth program that the police had no responsibilities during elections.
Erepa noted that Diri’s remarks, made in the context of a matter already before a court, were subjudice, as the governor claimed that the police had no obligation to serve as witnesses in a case involving an election they had monitored and secured.
Accusing the governor of making damaging statements against Commissioner of Police, CP Alausa, and other respected figures in the state and the country, Erepa asserted that Diri’s remarks appeared to be an attempt to preempt the court and hinder a legal process challenging his declaration as governor.
Erepa said: “We have watched with utter dismay Governor of Bayelsa State Senator Douye Diri, in a live youth Programme making an ignorant remark suggesting that the police have no assigned responsibilities during elections in the country.
“Diri needs to be educated that as protectors of the elections, the police monitor and secure the entire process and can also be called upon to stand as witnesses in any court process involving such elections.
“What Diri and his co travellers fail to understand is that the police have statutory responsibility in the conduct of elections in Nigeria, they are the only security outfit with that responsibility. The role of the police is to secure the election. That is why you find a police man in each of the polling units.
“We are also baffled that Diri out of his frustration made disparaging remarks against the Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police, CP Alausa for simply doing his job. Diri should be told that his utterance on a matter, which is subjudiced, is an affront on the judiciary and an attempt to preempt the court.
“We find Diri’s recent comments as an attempt to harass not just a decorated member of the Nigeria Police Force but the entire Nigeria Police Force”.
