Violence And The Will Of The People

The 2023 general election is less than two weeks away. To all intents, Nigerians are ready and willing to perform their patriotic duty of participating in the democratic process of electing a new crop of leaders who will man the affairs of the country for the next four years starting from May 29.

Under normal circumstances and in a more refined democracy, it ought to be for the people, like a woman in labour, full of positive expectations, especially the possibility of giving birth to a new life. But that cannot be said about the situation in Nigeria presently with the spates of violence, threats of violence and killings of innocent human beings who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Or better put, those who profess contrary political viewpoints.

In the foreboding situation, well-meaning Nigerians are making appeals to political actors and their supporters to play down on their rhetoric and the heightened anxiety it generates. Apparently, that seem not to be making the desired impact as Nigerians continue to be engulfed in trepidation not knowing what comes up next.

The activities of non-state actors are not helping matters as they raise fears that the election may be marred by insecurity. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) pointed this out in a recent statement just as it remains steadfast in its preparations.

Yet, bandits were reported to have killed a Divisional Police Officer and four others in Niger state. Elsewhere in the South east, three policemen attached to the Vice-Presidential Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party and Governor of Delta state, Ifeanyi Okowa, who were in a convoy, were ambushed and killed in cold blood. Also, in Imo state, a leading politician, Barrister Ikenga Ugochinyere, is on the receiving end of orchestrated and, seemingly, well- organized violent onslaught that has already cost him the life of his uncle.

Severally, on this page, we have had cause to point out the political implication of activities of bandits and other criminal elements. The security agencies claim to be on top of their game in managing the crisis. But in truth, their assurances are becoming more of sound bites received with, at best, a pinch of salt.

What, in our opinion, that is compounding the already bad situation is the inanities of political actors. Not too long ago, the campaign train of the Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, was attacked in Borno state.

In another condemnable move, that bad omen, again, reared its ugly head in Lagos, recently, during the mega-rally of the Labour Party. A similar ill-wind blew in Enugu during the Party’s rally in that coal city.

Many a political observer has attributed this apprehensive trend to the unfortunate tendency on the part of some politicians who, in their utterances, give the impression that they must win by hook or crook. In the ensuing desperation, they incite a scenario of deadly intent. Their supporters, ever the loyal lapdog, take the mindless importunity to violent levels by attacking any opposing side.

We are worried that in all of these disturbing situations, the security agencies are fully represented and they look on while street urchins and drug addicts disturb the peace of the nation as a whole. Even more unacceptable is the unpresidential disposition of some of the leading candidates who insist that it is a do or die affair.

Meanwhile, some prominent stakeholders, have been striving to calm the nerves of the politicians and their supporters through peace moves that seem not to be yielding any meaningful results.

Regardless, we as a newspaper, are enamoured by the readiness of Nigerians to exercise their franchise. Driven by the all-pervasive hardship brought about by poor leadership or abject misgovernance, the people are determined to call the bluff of those intent on disrupting the democratic process. INEC, in spite of efforts of some politicians with nuisance value, to scare them off their constitutional duty of conducting a free and fair election, has expressed its desire not to be deterred by such adverse motif.

In our opinion, going by the turnout of people at the voters’ registration centres and similar commitment to collect the all-important PVCs, Nigerians are making it clear to political jobbers and rent-seekers that the days of roguery in the political arena are numbered if not gone for good.

It is pertinent, in our view, to remind the politicians who thrive in violence that the will of the people is powerful enough to take them to their waterloo. Their sins will find them out in less than two weeks.