Kaduna’s inclement climate for politicking

Kaduna State is progressively becoming a hot spot for opposing politicians and practicing journalists since the latent political violence that had permeated everywhere was raised a notch higher recently with the vicious attack on the local chapter of the Secretariat of the Nigerian Union of Journalist by hoodlums largely believed to be sponsored by leading members of a faction of All Progressive Congress, APC.

Th e attack was motivated by a desire to stifl e the eff ort of some prominent members of the party in the Akida and Restoration groups to remonstrate over what they called sham local government primaries to produce delegates for the forthcoming party’s national convention in Abuja. Th e disputed primaries were allegedly conducted at the Government House, attended by carefully selected stakeholders, leaving out a large chunk of party offi cials waiting for hours on end at the party’s LGA secretariats to participate in the processes. Many members of the party were averse to that development and wanted to address press conference on the shoddy manner the primaries were conducted and to also stipulate steps to be taken for seeking redress. As they were busy addressing the press the proceeding was violently disrupted by about 100 stone-throwing hoodlums, wielding dangerous weapons and attempted to force their way into the venue.

Th ey were checked by the policemen at the gate, but later re-groped, and with the assistant of a senior police offi cer, forced themselves in and infl icted incalculable harm to the news crew of media houses and exacted irreparable damage to valuable equipment. Th e situation was so chaotic and dangerous, causing the freaked NUJ offi cials to hurriedly ferry their important guests to safety. Th ey included top offi cials of Akida and restoration groups, including two distinguished senators who organized the media briefi ng. As was to be expected the national body of the NUJ reacted promptly by raising an alarm that practicing journalists in Kaduna State now live in absolute fear of possible intimidation and unwarranted harassment in the course of discharging their responsibilities. In the same vein, the local chapter of the union held an extraordinary congress and strongly condemned the sponsors of the dastardly attack.

Th ey also gave the police a two-week ultimatum within which to apprehend the suspected culprits otherwise they will boycott all activities related to the police in the state henceforth. Up to the time of writing this column there has not been information of any arrest or slight indication of police eff ort to meet the deadline given them. However, it was not surprising such an ugly incident has happened in Kaduna, in a hallow vicinity where freedoms of speech and that of association were sacrosanct and held with highest esteem. Th at was because political class in Kaduna State, especially the ruling elites, is quite insensitive to constructive criticism and always quick to pour scorn on key members of the opposition and the press whom they always accuse of bias in exercising their fundamental human rights. Th ere is no disputing the fact that some resentful politicians are extremely offi cious, always interested in other peoples’ businesses ostensibly to intimidate or suppress them if they fail to acquiesce or condone their unfair acts. Th at was precisely manifested in their bitter relationship with members of the Press and the opposition parties which they castigate unnecessarily and unjustifi ably.

While the political parties and their leadership simply relish the pleasure of accusing each other, they have also progressively become unreceptive to good counseling and particularly hostile to excellent reasoning and superior argument and are often indisposed to logical thinking and reasoning. Th eir reactions to any meaningful criticism was always an angry, sharp or insulting rejoinder which is more often than not intended to humiliate and disparage anybody who dares raise fi nger against them. How else can one explain the haughty attempt of some APC stalwarts in Kaduna State to stifl e opposition, disagreeable politicians or members of the Press in a manner quite incompatible with their selfproclaimed status of change agents?

Th ey always fi nd fault with whatever the press has done as if they have no right to exercise their civic liberties. In fact any pressman who dares publish or broadcast any material considered off ensive or unpalatable to a government offi cial will subsequently be unnecessarily persecuted for what may be termed contrived and fabricated statements.

On so many occasions such vilifi cations would be followed by threats to life by special squad of thugs which often issue strict and uncompromising warnings for supposedly careless and obviously mischievous utterances. In eff ect, the caustic and erratic remarks of paid gubernatorial agents cum spokespersons have never addressed the substance of their critics’ frustration with their principal’s despotic style of leadership; rather they compound the situation by portraying his party and its government in poor light for being impervious to suggestions for improvements, having already become insensitive to other people’s feelings or situations that defi ne their predicaments.

Most criticizers of government policies and actions are peaceful citizens, propelled by immense patriotism to promote good governance in a state hijacked by mediocre politicians. Th ey do not deserve vindictive reproof from uninspiring public functionaries which are impervious to good reasoning and sound counseling.

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