BY MIKE OSAROGIAGBON
Director-General of the National Youth Service Corp Brig-Gen Shuaibu Ibrahim has appealed to residents of Edo State to ensure the safety and protection of corps members engaged as ad-hoc staff during the state governorship election scheduled for this coming Saturday.
Brig-Gen Shuaibu disclosed that no fewer than 1260 corps members have been mobilized for the election.
The DG made the disclosure when he led some senior officers of NYSC on a courtesy call on the commissioner of police, Edo state CP Johnson Babatunde Kokumo at his office in Benin City, last week.
Ibrahim who said he was earlier at the palace of the Benin Monarch, Oba Ewuare II stated that he was in Edo State to advocate security for corps members and appreciate those who have made the protection and safety of coppers a priority in the state.
“Nigeria cannot conduct a successful election without corp members because corp members are peaceful, apolitical, neutral and knowledgeable and they can easily be held accountable.
“I want to appeal to the good people of Edo State to please not to touch my corps members. They should protect them… they are their children.” Brig-Gen Shuaibu appealed.
On the safety of corp members that may be deployed to riverine communities in the state for election duty, the NYSC chief said no corp members is posted such areas.
“No corp member has been deployed to any waterway. The security of corp members is very paramount to us and the federal government. So we are not going to deploy our corp members to any crisis zone.” He maintained.
The commissioner of police CP Johnson Kokumo assured the NYSC boss of continuous security for all corp members in the state as it is the statutory responsibility of the police to provide security for all and sundry.
He lauded the efforts of the DG and NYSC authorities for the training of corp members to see themselves as one Nigeria.
“They have not only acquired academic qualifications but also acquired the culture of ideas, civilization and seeing themselves as one Nigeria.
“We are parents, they are our children. I am glad that over the years corp members have been used by Nigeria government and records have shown that they are apolitical and their efforts have been commendable.” CP Kokumo remarked.
On Brig-Gen Shuaibu Ibrahim’s entourage were the Director Special Clinic, DG’s Office, Abuja Mr Afolayan James; NYSC Edo State coordinator, Mr Adebayo Ojo; Director, NYSC South South Area Office Mr Benjamin Omotunde and Director, Corps Welfare and Inspectorate Mr Sanusi Abdulrasheed.
