February polls: IGP broke peace accord –Wamakko

As Nigerians await the Feb­ruary general elections, the Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Aliyu Wa­makko yesterday said the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Su­leiman Abba has violat­ed the No Violence Ac­cord signed last week by the leading political parties in the country.

Wamakko gave the thumbs down to the IGP at the 12th edition of The Sun Awards held at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos where he was honoured as The Sun Man of The Year 2014.

The Sokoto State gover­nor said the IGP made non­sense of the accord signed in Abuja by President Goodluck Jonathan, who is the presidential candidate of the ruling Peoples Demo­cratic Party (PDP) and pres­idential candidate of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) General Muhammadu Buhari, by failing to stem the attack on the opposition party by members of the ruling party. He accused the police of double standard in their ap­proach in the maintenance of law and order ahead of the elections.

The governor expressed dismay that while the police have been arresting mem­bers of his party on trumped up charges, members of the ruling party engaging in vi­olence have been allowed to move about freely.

“A few days ago, an ac­cord was signed between Jonathan and Buhari on non-violence. But the IGP has made nonsense of the accord. Our campaign of­fice was attacked and some­body killed. I am sorry for our country,” he said.

However, Wamakko said it was heart-warming that Nigeria now has two strong political parties, not­ing, “let me admit that this country is passing through a phase now. For a long time, Nigeria has had only one dominant political party. Germany, Britain, USA all have two strong parties. I am happy we have reached that stage now with the APC.”

Apart from Wamakko, 18 other Nigerians received awards in 10 different cate­gories at the ceremony. The other awardees include Mrs Dooshima Yemisi Suswam, wife of the Benue State governor, Gabriel Suswam, who was honoured as the Most Supportive First Lady for 2014. For Lifetime Achievement Award, five eminent Nigerians were honoured. They included former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangi­da, who was represented by a former military governor of Lagos State, Brig Gen­eral Raji; Chairman, PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), Chief Tony Anenih, rep­resented by his son, Tony Anenih Jnr; former Educa­tion Minister, Senator Jibril Aminu; first female Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in the country, Chief Fo­lake Solanke and insurance guru, Professor Joe Irukwu, represented by Mr Steve Ndukwe.

Managing Director of First Bank of Nigeria, Mr Bisi Onasanya and former Managing Director of Ze­nith Bank, Mr Jim Ovia bagged the Banker of the Year and Investor of the Year awards respectively.

The Chief Executive Of­ficer, Nestoil, Dr Ernest Azudialu-Obiejesi was hon­oured as the Business Man of the Year and the CEO, Sifax Nigeria Limited, Dr Taiwo Afolabi also bagged Business Man of the Year. The CEO of Comestar Man­ufacturing Limited, Chief James Uduji emerged the Manufacturer of the Year.

Executive Vice Chair­man, Nigeria Communica­tions Commission (NCC), Dr Eugene Juwah and Director General of Na­tional Emergency Manage­ment Agency (NEMA), Alhaji Muhammed Sani Sidi bagged the Public Ser­vice Award.

Film producer, Mr Kunle Afolayan and music pro­ducer cum musician, Don Jazzy bagged the Nolly­wood Personality and Cre­ative Person of the Year awards respectively.

Blessing Okagbere- Otegheri was honored as Sports Person of the Year while the late Dr Stella Adadevoh was honoured posthumously as the Nige­rian Hero of the Year.