News: Poll: Sultan seeks safety of corps members

Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Abubakar III

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has asked security agencies in the country to provide adequate protection for members of the National Youth Service Corps deployed to assist officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct the general elections.

Abubakar gave the charge when the NYSC Director-General, Brig-Gen. Johnson Olawumi, paid a pre-election advocacy visit to his palace.

This was contained in a statement by the NYSC on Sunday.

The sultan was quoted as saying, “I call on politicians to ensure the safety of the corps members. On my part, I have directed district heads in the state to take charge of the safety of corps members serving in their domains, and want same move to be replicated in other parts of the country.

“I also urge corps members not to be deterred by past violence, but to consider their service in the conduct of elections as a national duty to be proud of.”

Abubakar further urged them to go into the electoral assignment with high sense of patriotism and to avoid identifying with any political party.

The NYSC DG, Olawumi, appealed to the monarch to help in sensitising members of the public, especially politicians, to ensure the safety of the corps members before, during and after the elections.

The DG also urged Nigerians to report misconduct by any corps members to the NYSC management, rather than take the laws into their hands.