Former Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor (retd.), has called for stronger action against politicians and other prominent Nigerians whose public statements could incite violence, saying individuals who make inflammatory comments should face arrest and appropriate legal consequences.
Irabor made the call while reacting to the controversy surrounding comments attributed to Senator Francis Fadahunsi ahead of the Osun State governorship election.
The former military chief said political leaders and other influential figures should be held accountable when their statements have the potential to provoke violence, threaten public safety or undermine the peaceful conduct of elections.
He stressed that freedom of expression should not be interpreted as a licence to make statements capable of encouraging violence or destabilising communities.
Irabor argued that security agencies should not wait until violence occurs before taking action against individuals whose utterances could create tension or encourage supporters to engage in criminal activities.
His comments come amid growing concerns over inflammatory rhetoric ahead of the Osun governorship election, particularly following remarks attributed to Fadahunsi at a campaign event.
Fadahunsi was recently questioned by the Osun State Police Command over comments made during an All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign rally in Ilesa. The remarks were interpreted by some observers as encouraging supporters to confront or attack members of the Accord Party.
The development has triggered reactions from political parties, civil society groups and other stakeholders, with concerns that inflammatory political statements could heighten tensions ahead of the election.
Irabor said public officials and political actors have a responsibility to promote peace, particularly during election periods when tensions are often heightened.
He maintained that security agencies should investigate statements that cross the line into incitement and take appropriate action where there is sufficient evidence of wrongdoing.
According to him, prominent individuals should not be treated differently from ordinary citizens when their actions or utterances pose a threat to public order.
The former CDS also warned that unchecked inflammatory rhetoric could have serious consequences, particularly in an environment where political disagreements can quickly escalate into violence.
He called on political parties and their supporters to conduct their campaigns peacefully and respect the rights of opponents regardless of political differences.
The former defence chief’s position comes as security agencies intensify preparations for the Osun governorship election, with concerns over the deployment of security personnel and the potential for clashes among supporters of rival political parties.
Stakeholders have repeatedly urged political leaders to moderate their language, avoid threats and allow voters to freely participate in the electoral process.
Irabor’s call for arrests is likely to intensify the debate over the responsibility of political leaders for inflammatory statements and the extent to which security agencies should intervene before such statements translate into violence.
He emphasised that maintaining peace requires not only the deployment of security personnel but also accountability for individuals whose words or actions threaten the stability of the country.
