14th January, 2015
It remains a truth so certain that most Nigerian politicians do not really believe in the Nigeria Project. What they centre their thoughts and ambitions on include their personal interest, the national cake or the nation’s wealth and how it would end up in their pockets at the expense of the suffering masses.
Therefore, we are not surprised at the level of pre-election violence that has greeted the forthcoming general elections in the country, thus raising apprehension among the citizens, especially those of voting age.
Violence began recently with a twin attack by unidentified gunmen on vehicles conveying some members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, from Asari-Toru and Khana Local Government Areas to the inaugural presidential campaign of the APC candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, at the Adokiye Amasiemaka Stadium in the Ikwerre Local Government Area. One person was killed while many others sustained bullet wounds in the incidents as confirmed by the State Police Command.
In Jos, a few days after, angry youths burnt the campaign buses of President Goodluck Jonathan. Last Sunday, the APC secretariat in Okrika, Rivers State was bombed by unidentified people. Unfortunately, Okrika is the hometown of Nigeria’s First Lady, Patience Jonathan, whose husband is the residential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the election next month. No life was lost in the attack because it occurred before workers and party faithful resumed. On Monday, gunmen attacked the Abuja home of the APC National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun, who, fortunately enough, was not at home. They met his wife and allegedly ransacked Oyegun’s bedroom in what his party thinks could be a mission with sinister motives. No life was lost, but one could imagine the trauma that would follow.
In Abia State, eastern Nigeria, the situation is not different. The secretariat of the Progressive Peoples Alliance, PPA, along Warri Street, Umuahia, Abia State was razed down by an inferno, which resulted from an explosion caused by attackers who allegedly threw materials in two four-litre paint containers into the premises. The containers were said to have gone off with a deafening explosion. The PPA said it suspects the State Government and the PDP since the case was not the first. The first time the office was attacked, PPA’s personnel suffered injury and property worth millions of naira were destroyed. The case was allegedly reported to the police, yet nothing concrete has resulted from it. The party said at a time, a coffin was placed at the secretariat while their posters and billboards in Aba have been destroyed.
Politicians and their supporters should stop turning an election into war or a do-or-die affair. If they really want to serve the people and not just seeking political office simply because of personal gains and greed, why should they resort to wanton destruction of life and property? The situation is even drawing international concerns already with the U.S., United Nations and other international agencies warning against continued pre-election violence.
The questions yearning for answers are: what are the police and other security agencies doing about protecting the lives and property of Nigerians before, during and after the elections? Why should youths allow themselves to be used as kidnappers, thugs and for other means knowing the danger to their lives? Nigerians must know that no life is more precious than the other. No life should be lost because of the ambition of others. Those who have turned themselves to tools in the hands of some desperate politicians must retrace their steps from the dangerous path they have taken. Election violence is an ill wind that blows nobody good.