Police Beef Up Security In Ekiti Ahead Of Jonathan's Visit On Saturday

The police on Friday beefed up security in and around Ado-Ekiti in readiness for President Goodluck Jonathan’s visit to Ekiti on Saturday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the president is expected in the state on the invitation of Chief Afe Babalola, a legal luminary and founder of Afe Babalola University (ABUAD), Ado-Ekiti.

He is to attend the first convocation ceremony of the university which is graduating 103 science-based students.

The president is expected to inaugurate projects at the university, and the Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti, located opposite the university.

NAN reports that by Friday afternoon, stern-looking uniformed and plain-clothed security men had taken positions in strategic locations in the state capital.

In an interview with NAN, the Public Relations Officer of the Police Command in Ekiti, Victor Babayemi, said that all hands were on deck to ensure a hitch-free visit by the president.

He promised that the command would ensure safety of lives and property.

Babayemi said the Police Commissioner in the state, Mr Sotonye Wakama, ensured that policemen were deployed to strategic locations in the state capital and beyond.

He said the command attached great importance to the president’s visit and had taken proactive measures to "put trouble makers at bay before, during and after the visit’’.

According to him, the centenary celebration of Catholicism in the state will also take place on Saturday.

"This Saturday is critical to us in Ekiti because President Goodluck Jonathan will be visiting Ekiti to inaugurate projects at ABUAD and Federal Polytechnic.

"Apart from this, the Speaker, House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal and representative of Pope Francis will also be attending the ceremony marking the 100 years of Catholicism in Ekiti.

"So, the command is quite aware of the task ahead and we have taken proactive measures to ensure that Ekiti remains peaceful.

"I am convinced that with the steps taken so far, no crisis will be witnessed throughout the time the eminent Nigerians will be here,’’ Babayemi said.